Borjomi

Borjomi (ბორჯომი bohr-joh-mee) is a town in central Georgia as well as the name of a natural reserve and of the famous volcanic salty spring water. The source of this spring water lies in the Borjomi gorge.

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.

• Tourist Information. The tourist information is staffed by Artur who is super helpful, speaks fluent English and will give you a map of town and an overview of places to go.
  
  At the tourist office you can also arrange day tours to Rabati Fortress in Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia.

Tourist Information. The tourist information is staffed by Artur who is super helpful, speaks fluent English and will give you a map of town and an overview of places to go.

At the tourist office you can also arrange day tours to Rabati Fortress in Akhaltsikhe and Vardzia.

• The Borjomi Museum of Local Lore is located at Tsminda Nino 5. Admission 3 lari, tour in English or Hebrew 15 lari. Opening hours 10:00-19:00 Jun-Sep, to 17:00 Oct-May.
• Romanov Palace. An official residence of the President of Georgia with a beautiful garden.
• Blue Palace "Firuza". A unique cultural monument built in 1892 by the Iranian consul. The house combines Persian, Georgian and European styles.
• Timotesubani monastery.

Romanov Palace. An official residence of the President of Georgia with a beautiful garden.

Blue Palace "Firuza". A unique cultural monument built in 1892 by the Iranian consul. The house combines Persian, Georgian and European styles.

Timotesubani monastery.

• Borjomi Central Park. Stretched along the Borjomula river, the park contains the source of the Borjomi mineral water.. First part of park contains park amusements and cafes. The second part of the park is great for a walk, and reveals a high waterfall including sculptur, great for pictures. 2 lari.
• Natural Hot Pools. A set of three natural hot pool that's popular with locals for a picnic. This was one pool before, which was quite hot. Nowadays, it has been converted to three pools, which are semi-warm and unfortunately not hot enough to heat you up sufficiently. Some local business men try to make money off its remote location, and running an expensive "taxi service" to bring you back to the park entrance. Don't give em a reason. 5 lari, but at night there might not be anyone there.
• Borjomi Cable Car. Near the entrance of the central park there is an option to use cable car to get up to plateau, where there's a Ferris wheel.
• Cross Mount walk. For an excellent view of the city and the plateau. Get in at the sharp turn in the woods. (830 m above sea level) of the eastern extension of Pirosmani Street. From there go in the small road and follow the marker. You should reach the top at 1140 m above sea level after 30-60 minutes with a great view if you are lucky and there is no rain or fog. Afterwards, following the path further and down again, after 30-45 min you will reach the ruins of Gogia Fortress.. From there follow the small track (north)east and exit near the west end of Pirosmani Street., which is much harder to find, so better walk a proposed, east to west.
• 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).

• . Hike in Georgia largest national park. It covers about 8% of the total territory of Georgia. The diversity of physical, geographical and especially climactic conditions of its has shaped the wealth and variety of its flora and fauna. Apart from the largely untouched nature of Borjom-Kharagauli, there are numerous cultural monuments. In particular, there are two easily accessible churches, built in 9th century. At present eight tourist trails are officially operating in the national park. They vary in length, duration and complexity. Open from Apr until October

Plan your trip by going to the administration of the office, which is a bit to the west of Borjomi (23 Meskheti str.), and get a free access permission and a map of the area with all the routes and shelters as well. There are well-marked hikes of 1, 2 or 3 days, through forests and meadows.

If you want to take a hike in the national park, get enough supplies, water, and some basic sleeping gear with you, as the cabins are very basic. You can rent sleeping bags for 5 lari a day, but no mattresses, and the shelter beds are wooden planks. You pay a small fee for staying in the shelter (10 lari) or camping (5 lari). The permit to the park is free, but make sure to have it on you since rangers might ask for it.

It is also possible to take a 1-day hike from Borjomi to Qvabiskhevi (or the other way around) and then hitchhike or take a local bus or taxi back to Borjomi. Or do multiple day hikes. That way you can even get to go to the higher parts (up to 2,600 m).

Borjomi Central Park. Stretched along the Borjomula river, the park contains the source of the Borjomi mineral water.. First part of park contains park amusements and cafes. The second part of the park is great for a walk, and reveals a high waterfall including sculptur, great for pictures. 2 lari.

Natural Hot Pools. A set of three natural hot pool that's popular with locals for a picnic. This was one pool before, which was quite hot. Nowadays, it has been converted to three pools, which are semi-warm and unfortunately not hot enough to heat you up sufficiently. Some local business men try to make money off its remote location, and running an expensive "taxi service" to bring you back to the park entrance. Don't give em a reason. 5 lari, but at night there might not be anyone there.

Borjomi Cable Car. Near the entrance of the central park there is an option to use cable car to get up to plateau, where there's a Ferris wheel.

Cross Mount walk. For an excellent view of the city and the plateau. Get in at the sharp turn in the woods. (830 m above sea level) of the eastern extension of Pirosmani Street. From there go in the small road and follow the marker. You should reach the top at 1140 m above sea level after 30-60 minutes with a great view if you are lucky and there is no rain or fog. Afterwards, following the path further and down again, after 30-45 min you will reach the ruins of Gogia Fortress.. From there follow the small track (north)east and exit near the west end of Pirosmani Street., which is much harder to find, so better walk a proposed, east to west.

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).

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.

• 1+2 bar, 2 9 Aprili St (By the entrance of the mineral water park. With nice wines and slow service.
• Inka Cafe, +995 595302077. Some Western-style dishes and pastries.
• Metropoli, Kostava St.. You might expect this location, right inside of the beautiful train station building and next to the touristy epi-center, to be particular expensive. But actually this restaurant is decently inexpensive—Adjaruli Khachapuri 7 lari. It has a large kitchen which does prepare everthing listed in the menu. And the menu is even offered as picture book. What else can you require? Beer 2-3 lari.
• My House, Kostava st. N31 (near by the catherdral, +995 591 21 21 47. 09:00-01:00. Serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and coffee. Good for groups, parties and children. Walk-ins welcome. Street and car parking.
• Old Borjomi, 19 Kostava St, +995 367 22 33 20. Excellent quality food, nice interior, WiFi. Though kebab, khatchapuri and pizza is not quite haut cusine. They make perhaps the best khachapuri in Georgia and are famous for their chkmeruli (chicken in garlic sauce). ~10 lari per dish.
• Pesvebi, Erekle street N3, +995 367 22 17 02, +995 571900467. 11:00-24:00. Old Georgian style, national Georgian dishes, degustation of Georgian house-wine, hall for 60 customers, free water, parking, WC and WiFi. Rated 4.2 out of 5. Mushroom with sugulni, baked trout with white wine, baked apple with walnut, for 24 lari.

1+2 bar, 2 9 Aprili St (By the entrance of the mineral water park. With nice wines and slow service.

Inka Cafe, +995 595302077. Some Western-style dishes and pastries.

Metropoli, Kostava St.. You might expect this location, right inside of the beautiful train station building and next to the touristy epi-center, to be particular expensive. But actually this restaurant is decently inexpensive—Adjaruli Khachapuri 7 lari. It has a large kitchen which does prepare everthing listed in the menu. And the menu is even offered as picture book. What else can you require? Beer 2-3 lari.

My House, Kostava st. N31 (near by the catherdral, +995 591 21 21 47. 09:00-01:00. Serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and coffee. Good for groups, parties and children. Walk-ins welcome. Street and car parking.

Old Borjomi, 19 Kostava St, +995 367 22 33 20. Excellent quality food, nice interior, WiFi. Though kebab, khatchapuri and pizza is not quite haut cusine. They make perhaps the best khachapuri in Georgia and are famous for their chkmeruli (chicken in garlic sauce). ~10 lari per dish.

Pesvebi, Erekle street N3, +995 367 22 17 02, +995 571900467. 11:00-24:00. Old Georgian style, national Georgian dishes, degustation of Georgian house-wine, hall for 60 customers, free water, parking, WC and WiFi. Rated 4.2 out of 5. Mushroom with sugulni, baked trout with white wine, baked apple with walnut, for 24 lari.

• 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, easily reach from Borjomi by an inexpensive sightseeing train (1-2 lari, 38 km), which leaves from Borjomi Freight railway station (#2) and takes 2 hours. The train leaves Borjomi every day at 07:15 and 10:55, and 10:00 and 14:15 from Bakuriani.
• 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).