Borjomi Travel Guide 2026: Mineral Water Park, Things to Do & How to Get There
Updated June 2026 · 156 km from Tbilisi · ~2 h by car · spa resort & national park gateway
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | ~150–220 GEL/car, fixed | ~2 h door-to-door | Families, day trips, combining with Bakuriani |
| Marshrutka from Didube | ~15–20 GEL | 2.5–3 h | Solo, light luggage |
| Train from Tbilisi | ~5–10 GEL | 4–5 h | Scenery, slow travel |
Why visit Borjomi
Borjomi is the name on every Georgian dinner table — the salty, fizzy mineral water poured at celebrations across the country and exported to dozens of markets. But the town behind the bottle is a genuine destination in its own right. Tucked into a forested gorge in the Lesser Caucasus, Borjomi grew into a fashionable spa resort in the 19th century when the Romanov family built a summer palace here and the imperial court came to "take the waters." That heritage still shapes the town: a green riverside park, Belle Époque villas, a cable car climbing the gorge wall, and the constant, slightly theatrical ritual of tourists filling cups at the warm mineral spring.
What makes Borjomi easy to recommend is its versatility. It is close enough to Tbilisi for a day trip, comfortable enough for an overnight spa break, and perfectly positioned as the gateway to both Bakuriani ski resort and the vast Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Few places in Georgia pack mineral spa culture, imperial history and serious hiking into one small, walkable town.
Top things to do in Borjomi
Drink the mineral water in Central Park
The heart of any Borjomi visit is Central Park (Mineral Water Park). Just inside the entrance, a small pavilion dispenses the famous warm, naturally carbonated spring water — free of charge, so bring a cup or empty bottle. Fair warning: straight from the source it tastes far more strongly mineral and sulphurous than the chilled bottled version, and opinions divide sharply. The park itself is a lovely tree-shaded promenade along the river, with cafés, a small funfair and the lower cable-car station.
Ride the cable car and find the forest pools
From the park, a short cable car climbs to a plateau with a Ferris wheel and wide views over the gorge and rooftops — the best panorama in town. Beyond the park, a forest trail (about 3 km each way) leads to open-air sulphur pools where you can soak in warm, naturally heated water surrounded by trees. It is free and atmospheric; bring swimwear and sandals.
See the Romanov palace at Likani
A few kilometres from the centre, the Likani Palace was the summer residence of the Romanovs and later a state retreat. The grounds and riverside setting are the draw, a reminder of why this gorge became Georgia's first resort.
Hike Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
One of the largest protected areas in Georgia, covering over 85,000 hectares of forest and alpine meadow, the national park offers everything from gentle marked day walks to multi-day backcountry routes with mountain huts. Register at the visitor centre, pick a trail to your level, and you can be deep in unspoilt Caucasus forest within an hour of the mineral-water crowds.
How to get to Borjomi from Tbilisi
Borjomi sits about 156 km from Tbilisi: west along the fast E60 highway, then south into the Borjomi gorge. The drive is around 2 hours in normal traffic and genuinely scenic for the final stretch. Your options:
Private transfer — the simplest, door-to-door for a fixed price confirmed at booking. Ideal if you want to combine Borjomi with Bakuriani, stop for photos, or travel with family and luggage. Book the Tbilisi → Borjomi route and you choose the time and vehicle. Arriving by air? See our Tbilisi Airport to Borjomi guide for timing straight from the terminal.
Marshrutka — minibuses leave Didube station roughly hourly for 15–20 GEL, taking 2.5–3 hours. The budget benchmark; fine solo, tighter with bags.
Train — a slower but comfortable and very cheap option (5–10 GEL, 4–5 hours), with a couple of departures a day. The train also connects to the famous Kukushka narrow-gauge line up to Bakuriani.
Combining Borjomi with Bakuriani
The smartest trip in this corner of Georgia treats Borjomi and Bakuriani as a pair. Borjomi is the spa-and-park valley town; Bakuriani, 30 km up a forested serpentine, is the family ski and summer mountain resort. Many travellers spend a night in each, or base in one and day-trip to the other. The classic experience is to ride the slow, scenic Kukushka train between Borjomi and Bakuriani one way and take a car the other — full logistics are in our Tbilisi to Borjomi & Bakuriani options guide and the dedicated Borjomi to Bakuriani guide.
Plan your Borjomi trip — fixed price, your scheduleHow booking works with OrbiTrip
Choose the Tbilisi → Borjomi route, set your date, time and vehicle class, and add any stops you want. The price is fixed at booking — no surge, no surprises — and you pay the driver directly, because OrbiTrip is a free platform that simply connects you with licensed local drivers. You get the driver's contacts after confirmation, and flight tracking is included if you start at the airport.
When to visit
Late spring through autumn is the sweet spot for the park, cable car, forest pools and national-park hiking, with comfortable temperatures and long days. Winter has its own appeal: Borjomi is the natural overnight base for the Bakuriani ski season, so the town stays busy and the gorge looks magical under snow. Whenever you come, the mineral spring keeps flowing.
FAQ
How far is Borjomi from Tbilisi?
About 156 km, roughly 2 hours by private car on the E60 and gorge road.
What is Borjomi famous for?
Its naturally carbonated mineral water, the historic spa park, and as the gateway to Bakuriani and the national park.
Can I drink the spring water for free?
Yes — the pavilion in Central Park dispenses the warm spring water free; it tastes strongly mineral.
Is a day trip enough?
You can see the park, cable car and pools in a day, but combining with Bakuriani overnight is better value for the drive.
What is the cheapest way to get there?
The train (5–10 GEL) is cheapest but slow; the marshrutka (15–20 GEL) is the practical budget option.
When should I visit?
May–October for the park and hiking; winter if you are pairing it with skiing in Bakuriani.
OrbiTrip — private transfers and tours across Georgia. Fixed prices, licensed drivers, flight tracking. OrbiTrip is free to use; you pay the driver directly.