Borjomi

Understand

right|thumb|Borjomi from the cable car Borjomi is a famous resort town, popular for its distinctive mineral water. The water from the well here is several times stronger than the Borjomi water you can buy in the shops. Borjomi has many hotels and was very popular in soviet times, of which you will still find many buildings in the city. Above the centre of the city there lies a plateau with a Ferris wheel and further hotels, providing a great view over the region and mountains. Furthermore, the nearby Borjomi Kharagauli National Park is the largest in Georgia and a popular hiking destination.

Get around

The centre of Borjomi is small enough to walk.

Otherwise, there is a city bus going along the main road through Borjomi for 0.20 lari to accomplish longer distances, e.g., to the Borjomi Freight railway station (see below).

City bus no. 1 goes from Borjomi‘s central square all the way to Likani and back. It doesn’t leave from where the other city buses leave from but from a bus stop on the other side of the road about 100 m north.

City bus no. 3 goes from Borjomi’s city bus station at the small outdoor market all the way north into Kvibisi and finds it final stop there in its small center.

City bus no. 4 goes from Borjomi’s city bus station at the small outdoor market towards the south into Atskuri (needs confirmation).

See

The Borjomi Museum of Local Lore is located at Tsminda Nino 5. Admission 3 lari, tour in English or Hebrew 15 lari. Opening hours Jun-Sep 10:00-19:00, Oct-May 10:00-17:00.

Do

Further Walks around the city – There are nice, excellently sign-posted walks from the centre worth doing. One goes to the natural pools and returns via the plateau. The second part is free from the crowd and the vendors present in the park (~3 hr). The other circular path climbs up to the ruins of a tower and further up to the top of Cross Mountain across from the city park. It is quite a climb, but in pleasant forest and with a great view (~2 hr).

Buy

Near the entry to the city park, locals sell home-made jam from pine tree cones. It is claimed that the jam is useful when curing upper respiratory tract infections and is good for improving immunity.

Sleep

The tourist information can also arrange a guest house for you, and will organize for the host to pick you up at the tourist office. Otherwise, just walk along Pirosmani Street, north-west of the main road in the centre, and you will find plenty of options between 15 and 25 lari.

Borjomi Hostel - The dorm has no electricity. If you don't mind spending the night in a pitch black room with no heating or electricity, the rate is 15 lari a night. Hotel Meidani - Very nice clean rooms with good heating, a nice on-suite with a hot shower, comfortable twin/double beds, TV, and Wi-Fi. Excellent location in the middle of Borjomi. 40 lari a night (Mar 2016). Marina's Guesthouse: Cozy guesthouse near the center of town and a popular way station for expats, backpackers and tourists. Marina's son and daughter both speak fluent English. Hotel Borjomi. Elegant, wooden Tsarist-era house located in central Borjomi, next to the Museum of Local Lore. Bed and breakfast available. Prices start from 70 lari. English and Russian spoken.

Go next

Train to Tbilisi leaves at 05:50 in the morning and 16:35 in the afternoon. Leaves from Borjomi Parki station. Buy tickets on the train with exact change. Journey takes around 4 hours. There are also marshrutki which should be faster but more expensive. Vardzia – The most famous cave monastery in Georgia besides David Gareja Monastery Complex, near the border with Turkey and Armenia. The tourist information offers a 70 lari day trip, including a stop at the Green Monastery, the Akhaltsikhe fortress with a very nice museum (6 lari), and Khertvisi Fortress (5 lari). Ask for the natural sulphur spring and bath (45°C) to be included in the tour! Akhaltsikhe – Popular for its beautiful and newly renovated fortress, but not one of the main attractions in Georgia. Bakuriani – A famous ski resort. Used to be served in by a scenic narrow gauge train from Borjomi freight, but as of September 2024, the tourist information office say that the train is not running while repairs are made. If the train is running it will be from the freight railway station, a couple of km downstream along the river from the more central "Parki" station. There are several direct bus connections to other places in Georgia, like Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and even Batumi. The timetable in the image gives an overview. The prices can be different while the departure times are quite stable even for years (according to the Marshrutka drivers).