Borjomi mineral springs: the imperial spa of Georgia
Last reviewed: 2026-05-18Is Borjomi worth visiting beyond the bottled water?
Yes — the water at source tastes different and the setting is genuinely rewarding: a restored imperial park, free mineral spring taps, the Moorish Romanov Palace, a cable car, and access to one of Europe's largest national parks. Half-day minimum, two days for hiking or spa stays.
The water that made a town famous
If you grew up anywhere in the post-Soviet space, the green glass bottle with the red deer is an object of genuine cultural memory. Borjomi mineral water — naturally carbonated, alkaline, with a mineralisation of approximately 5–7 grams per litre — was distributed across the USSR in quantities that made it the most widely consumed premium mineral water in the Soviet world. The brand collapsed with the USSR, was revived after independence, and has successfully re-established itself in international markets over the past two decades.
Behind the brand sits a real place. Borjomi is a small resort town in a deep valley of the Mtkvari River, two hours west of Tbilisi, built around naturally occurring mineral springs that have been in use since at least the 7th century. At its peak in the late 19th century, it was the summer resort of the Russian imperial family — the Romanov hunting lodge stands on a ridge above the valley. The Soviet era converted it into a mass spa destination. Today it operates in a third incarnation: a mid-sized resort with good hotels, a restored central park, and access to one of the largest national parks in the Caucasus.
The reasons to visit go well beyond drinking the water.
The water itself
The springs at Borjomi emerge from a volcanic groundwater system at 38–41°C, naturally carbonated and rich in dissolved sodium bicarbonate. The taste is noticeably alkaline and faintly salty on first encounter — quite different from European mineral water. The carbonation is strong at the source, declining somewhat in the bottled version.
Drinking the water at source is the quintessential Borjomi experience. The spring taps in Ekaterina Park dispense it free and directly. Bring a bottle or buy one at the kiosks near the park entrance. Fill it. The first sip at the warm temperature (not hot, warmer than room temperature) is memorable. Children tend to respond dramatically in both directions.
The therapeutic claims for Borjomi water — digestive benefits, electrolyte balance, mild detoxification — are traditional rather than rigorously clinical. Moderate consumption is harmless and arguably beneficial. Avoid drinking large quantities at once, particularly for those with kidney conditions.
Borjomi Central Park
The central park is the geographical and social centre of Borjomi. Designed in the Russian imperial spa tradition, it runs along the floor of the valley from the town entrance up through forested gorge to the national park boundary.
The main elements moving through the park from the entrance:
The pavilion and central fountain: The architectural centrepiece of the lower park, built in the 19th century and restored.
Ekaterina Park mineral springs: The octagonal pavilion housing the main spring taps. This is where you fill your bottle. The water flows year-round. The pavilion is the park’s most visited single point.
The Firuza bath house: A restored 19th-century bathing pavilion inside the park, operating for individual and group mineral bath sessions.
The children’s park: Bumper boats on a small pond, modest fairground, playgrounds. Genuinely useful if visiting with children.
Walking paths continuing upvalley: Beyond the main visitor zone, paths continue for several kilometres into the gorge toward the national park. These are well-maintained and suitable for casual walking.
The cable car: Climbs the hillside from the mid-park to a viewpoint and a small hilltop amusement area. Seven-minute ride; views over the town and valley. Tickets at the lower station.
The Romanov Palace (Firuza): A 45-minute walk from the lower park, or a short taxi ride. The 1892 Moorish-revival hunting lodge of the Romanov family, now a museum. The exterior — turquoise facade, pointed arches, ornate decoration — is unlike any other building in the Caucasus. The museum inside is modest but contextually interesting.
A complete central park visit, including the springs, cable car, and Romanov Palace, takes three to four hours at a comfortable pace.
Taking the mineral baths
Beyond drinking the water, Borjomi’s mineral springs feed bathing facilities used therapeutically for centuries. The main options:
Firuza bath house (inside the central park): Walk-in mineral bath sessions in individual rooms. The water is the same spring source as the drinking taps — warm, mineralised, with the same therapeutic properties. Sessions typically 30–45 minutes; cost in the range of 30–60 GEL per room. The experience is more modest than a full spa but directly connected to the water’s source.
Hotel spas: The Rixos Borjomi, Crowne Plaza Borjomi, and Borjomi Palace all operate full spa facilities using the mineral water for pool, bath and treatment programmes. The Rixos is the most extensive — full wet area, treatment rooms, pools at different temperatures. Booking ahead is essential for weekend visits.
The mineral water is considered beneficial for digestive issues, rheumatic conditions, and general restoration. Georgian spa culture treats the water with genuine medical respect; multiple-day treatment stays are common among Georgian and regional visitors. For a travelling visitor, one or two bath sessions provides the experience without the full treatment protocol.
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
Borjomi is the main gateway to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park — one of the largest protected areas in Europe at nearly 87,000 hectares. The park covers old-growth Colchic forest, alpine meadows, and river valleys rising to over 2,800 m.
Day hikes: Multiple marked trails begin directly from the central park, ranging from two-hour forest walks to full-day ascents to viewpoints. The trails are well marked; a trail map is available at the park visitor centre (located in Borjomi).
Multi-day trekking: The Likani-Marelisi route, the Nunisi-Bakuriani trail, and longer traverses cross the park over two to five days with shelter accommodation at park checkpoints. These are serious hikes at altitude requiring proper preparation.
Wildlife: Brown bears, lynx, wolves, deer and a substantial bird population. Summer is the most reliable season for wildlife observation on the forest trails.
Registration: Required for all multi-day routes; the visitor centre handles this and provides route guidance.
For serious hikers, the best hikes in Georgia guide covers the national park routes in detail.
How to get to Borjomi from Tbilisi
The most convenient option for a day trip or short stay is a direct transfer:
GetYourGuideBorjomi, Rabati & Vardzia Cave Cityfrom €55Check availability →By car: 2 hours via the E60 motorway. Most flexible option; you can stop at Surami fortress or Gori on the way.
By marshrutka: From Didube station in Tbilisi, approximately 2–2.5 hours, 10–15 GEL. Marshrutkas run regularly through the day.
By train: Tbilisi to Borjomi; slower (3+ hours) but scenic through the Mtkvari valley.
Borjomi is 160 km from Tbilisi. It works as a day trip, though the combination of springs, park, palace, and a meal rewards staying one or two nights.
Combining Borjomi with the southwest circuit
Borjomi sits at the geographic centre of southwest Georgia and connects naturally to several excellent destinations:
Bakuriani ski resort: 40 minutes south — the smaller, family-focused Georgian ski resort. A Borjomi–Bakuriani combination makes an excellent winter trip: mineral baths and forest walks as rest days between ski days. See the Bakuriani guide.
Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe: 45 minutes further west — a spectacularly restored fortress complex containing mosque, church, castle and citadel from multiple historical periods.
Vardzia cave monastery: 1.5 hours further south through the Mtkvari gorge — the 12th-century rock-carved monastery of Queen Tamar. One of the great medieval sites of the Caucasus.
Sapara Monastery: 50 minutes west on a forest road — a remote 14th-century monastery with extraordinary frescoes, largely unknown outside specialist circles.
A four-day southwest circuit — Tbilisi, Borjomi, Rabati, Vardzia, return — is one of the most satisfying regional itineraries in Georgia.
Season and the best time to visit
Summer (June–September): Peak for the national park hiking. The central park is at its greenest. Busiest period; book spa hotels in advance.
Autumn (October–November): The forest colour in the Kharagauli park turns gold and red in October, producing some of the most beautiful landscapes in Georgia. Fewer visitors, perfect hiking conditions.
Winter (December–March): Quiet in Borjomi itself (most visitors go to Bakuriani for skiing). The mineral springs, the Firuza bath house, and the Romanov Palace are open year-round. A winter spa stay in Borjomi has its own particular atmosphere.
Spring (April–May): Excellent wildflower season in the park. The valley is green before summer heat sets in. Uncrowded.
Practical notes
Duration: Half-day minimum for the central park and springs. A full day adds the Romanov Palace, cable car, and a short forest walk. Two nights allows a proper spa stay or a national park day hike.
Language: English is spoken at the major hotels and tourist facilities. Russian is widely understood. The park visitor centre has English materials.
Food: Good restaurants serving Georgian food are clustered in central Borjomi. The mineral water appears on every table as a matter of course. The Adjaran khachapuri guide is worth reading — the boat-shaped cheese bread is regional excellent here.
Cash: Many smaller restaurants and the Firuza bath house prefer cash.
FAQ
Can I drink the water at the source for free? Yes. The Ekaterina Park spring taps are free and open to all visitors. Bring a bottle.
Is the water at source different from the bottled version? Yes — warmer, more intensely carbonated, and with a stronger mineral flavour. The bottling process mutes all of these characteristics. If you have only drunk bottled Borjomi, the source water is a different experience.
How long do I need? Half a day for the central park and springs. A full day for the palace, cable car and a national park walk. Two or three days for a spa-focused or hiking-focused stay.
Is Borjomi suitable as a day trip from Tbilisi? Yes. Two hours each way is manageable; departing at 8am gives you six hours in the town before a late return. Combining with Rabati Castle extends to a longer day requiring early departure.
Can I hike in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park? Yes. Register at the park visitor centre. Day hikes starting in the central park require no registration; anything longer than a half-day walk requires sign-in.
Related guides
- Tskaltubo spa town — Georgia’s other great spa destination
- Best thermal baths in Georgia — full spa comparison
- Best hikes in Georgia — Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park routes
- Bakuriani ski resort — the ski resort 40 minutes away
- Samtskhe-Javakheti destination guide — the full southwest region
Wellness & thermal baths
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