Borjomi, Georgia: What to See & How to Get There
Borjomi is a mountain spa town 160 km from Tbilisi with free mineral springs and a vast national park. Drive times from Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi.
Borjomi is a small mountain resort 160 km west of Tbilisi, tucked into a narrow gorge at around 850 metres above sea level. People come for three things: drinking mineral water straight from the source, hiking in one of Europe's largest national parks, and slowing down after the noise of the city. The most practical way to get here is by car β it gives you the flexibility to stop when you want, combine Borjomi with other destinations, and leave on your own schedule.
From Tbilisi
This is the most common route. The distance is around 160 km, and the drive takes 2 to 2.5 hours without traffic. The road is straightforward: take the E60 westbound through Mtskheta and Gori, then turn off at Khashuri and follow the Kura river into the gorge. That final stretch β from Khashuri to Borjomi β is the most scenic part of the drive: the road winds along the edge of the gorge with forest on both sides and the green river below.
Practical note: fill up in Tbilisi or Gori. There are almost no petrol stations along the gorge itself. Traffic on this route is moderate, but expect congestion leaving Tbilisi on Friday evenings and weekends.
If you're renting a car in Tbilisi, this works perfectly as either a day trip or an overnight. You can browse available cars at mydrive.club β free delivery anywhere in Tbilisi, no mileage limits.
From Batumi
A longer drive β around 215 km, taking roughly 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on your route. Two options:
- Via Kutaisi (faster): E60 eastbound through Zestafoni and Surami, then turn south toward Borjomi. Around 215 km of mostly good highway.
- Via Akhaltsikhe (longer, more scenic): through the Adjaran mountains on winding, sometimes narrow roads. Worth it if you're not in a hurry.
If you're driving from Batumi, Borjomi fits naturally into a loop: Batumi β Kutaisi β Borjomi β Tbilisi. That circuit sits comfortably in 4β5 days and covers some of the best the country has to offer.
From Kutaisi
The closest major city β 120β130 km, around 1.5 to 2 hours by car. The road runs through Surami, where you can stop at the medieval Surami Fortress along the way. Light traffic, decent road surface, no complications.
What to See in Borjomi
Central Park and the Mineral Spring
Most visitors head here first. The park is home to a free-to-drink mineral spring housed in a glass pavilion β this is where you can try the water straight from the ground. One important detail: what comes out of this spring is not quite the same as bottled Borjomi. The source water is slightly warm and has a distinct taste of sulphur and iron. It's medicinal-grade water; the bottled version sold worldwide is a lighter, table-water variety. If you want to take some with you, bring a bottle β but the water's beneficial properties last only about 24 hours once collected.
The park also has a cable car. The gondola is designed to look like a Borjomi bottle, which the kids tend to love. A one-way ticket costs 15 GEL (children under 6 ride free). It takes you up to a viewpoint at roughly 1,000 metres β good views over the gorge and a waterfall below.
Likani Palace
In the village of Likani, 2 km from Borjomi, stands a former summer residence of the Romanovs. The palace was built in the late 19th century and is surrounded by a formal park. It's now a state residence and closed to the public, but the grounds and exterior are worth a short stop.
Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park
This is the main reason to stay overnight. 85,000 hectares of forest, mountain ridges and alpine meadows β one of the largest protected natural areas in Europe. The park was established in 1995 and joined the European PAN Parks network in 2007.
There are 11 marked trails of varying difficulty and length. The shortest is Trail 6 from Likani β 13 km, manageable in a single day. The longest multi-day routes take 5β8 days and cross high passes; on a clear day from the summits you can see Elbrus.
Entry is paid and registration is mandatory β check in at the visitor centre near Likani before you start any route.
Soviet Architecture and Mosaics
Borjomi is a good place to look at Soviet-era design before it disappears entirely. Sanatoriums, mosaics on building exteriors, mid-century resort architecture β quite a bit is still standing. In Central Park, notice the House of Mirza-Riza-Khan, a Persian-Georgian style mansion built in 1892, now one of the town's architectural landmarks.
How Much Time Do You Need
Half a day is enough if you're coming from Tbilisi just to see the spring and walk the park. One to two days makes more sense: one day for the town and Central Park, the second for a hike in the national park or a drive up to Bakuriani β a ski resort 30 minutes from Borjomi along a mountain road. If you're planning a serious multi-day trek with nights in the backcountry, set aside 3 to 5 days.
A Few Practical Details
- Navigation: Google Maps works well to Borjomi and Likani. Download offline maps before heading into the national park β signal drops out.
- Roads: the main highway to Borjomi is in good condition. Within the town and on side roads, expect patches of old tarmac or gravel. A standard saloon car is fine; if you want to access remote trailheads, check the road status in advance.
- Fuel: top up in Khashuri or Gori. There are petrol stations in Borjomi itself, but fewer options.
- Parking: paid in the town centre; free at Likani and at the national park entrances.
- Best season: June through September for hiking. Winter for skiing in Bakuriani. Spring and autumn bring rain and some trails become harder to access.
Bottom line
Borjomi is one of those places that genuinely rewards having your own car. You control the pace β stop in the gorge when the light is good, take the Likani detour, come back via a different road. From Tbilisi it's 2.5 hours each way, which works as a day trip or as one stop in a longer loop through western Georgia. Either way, the drive itself is half the point.
