What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Borjomi, Georgia.
Photo: Ramaz Bluashvili / Pexels
Borjomi is a small nature town in Georgia with a population of 11,194. Most visits centre on Borjomi Central Park, where a cable car climbs the slope and the Sulphur Pools sit at the park's upper end. In Likani, on the western edge of town, trails lead into Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Nearby, you can visit the Green Monastery and Petre Fortress above the Mtkvari river. The best month to visit is September.
Most town sights take 1–3 hours each, so you can see the park, pools, cable car, museum and old streets in a full day. Add more time for Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, where a visit can last from half a day to several days.
Borjomi town centre
This long, wooded park follows the Borjomula river up a narrow gorge. Near the entrance you can drink Borjomi mineral water straight from the spring pavilion. It is the main reason most people come to town, and it is pleasant even on a short visit.
Upper end of Borjomi Central Park
These are open-air pools of warm sulphur water, reached by a walk up the gorge through the park. Bring a towel and swimwear. The walk there is part of the appeal.
Likani, western edge of Borjomi
This is one of Georgia's largest protected areas, with marked trails through thick forest and mountain meadows. Stop at the visitor centre first for maps and trail advice. Some longer trails need overnight stays in shelters, so plan ahead.
Borjomi Central Park
The cable car runs from the park up to a plateau above the gorge. From the top you get wide views over the town and the forested hills. It is an easy way to see the landscape without a steep climb.
Chitakhevi, near Borjomi
This is a small stone church in a quiet forest valley, still used by monks. The walk in from the road goes through the woods. Dress modestly, as it is an active monastery.
Above the Mtkvari river, near Borjomi
These are the ruins of a medieval fortress on a rocky hill that once guarded the gorge. The path up is short but steep and uneven. At the top there are good views of the valley and the river.
Borjomi town centre
This small museum covers the history of the town and the region. It explains the town's time as a Russian imperial resort and the story of its mineral water. It is a useful stop on a rainy day.
Borjomi town centre
This is a wooden house with a painted Persian-style balcony, built for an Iranian diplomat. It is one of the most distinctive buildings in town. Most visitors see it from the street while walking through the centre.
Borjomi town centre
Walk the streets along the river to see old wooden villas with carved balconies from the town's resort years. Many are worn and some are in poor repair, but together they give the town its character. Go early or late in the day for the best light in the gorge.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C / -5°C | 12 days (90 mm) | 5.9 h/day | 2.1/10 |
| February | 7°C / -4°C | 11 days (81 mm) | 6.8 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| March | 9°C / -1°C | 17 days (111 mm) | 7.1 h/day | 3.8/10 |
| April | 15°C / 3°C | 14 days (97 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 6.7/10 |
| May | 19°C / 8°C | 17 days (119 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| June | 24°C / 13°C | 16 days (113 mm) | 11.5 h/day | 6.5/10 |
| July | 26°C / 15°C | 16 days (82 mm) | 11.4 h/day | 5.7/10 |
| August | 28°C / 16°C | 11 days (52 mm) | 12.0 h/day | 5.7/10 |
| Best month: September | 23°C / 12°C | 10 days (71 mm) | 10.2 h/day | 7.7/10 |
| October | 17°C / 6°C | 12 days (105 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 7.2/10 |
| November | 11°C / 1°C | 11 days (94 mm) | 6.7 h/day | 5.1/10 |
| December | 6°C / -3°C | 12 days (108 mm) | 5.8 h/day | 2.7/10 |
Avoid. The coldest month, with highs of 5°C, lows of -5°C and about 12 rain days. It scores just 2.1, the lowest of the year.
Avoid. Still cold, with highs of 6.5°C, lows near -4°C and about 11 rain days. It scores 3.2.
Avoid. Highs reach only 9°C and it is wet, with nearly 17 rain days and 111 mm of rain. It scores 3.8.
Good. Highs rise to 15°C, with about 14 rain days and 9 hours of sun a day. It scores 6.7, the best spring month.
Good, but pack for rain. Highs are 19°C, but May has the most rain days of the year at 17. It scores 6.5.
Good. Warm highs of 24°C and 11.5 hours of sun, but still about 16 rain days. It scores 6.5.
OK. Highs of 26°C and long sunny days, but expect about 16 rain days. It scores 5.7.
OK. The hottest month, with highs of 28°C. It is drier, with about 11 rain days and 52 mm of rain. It scores 5.7.
Best month. Highs of 23°C, the fewest rain days of the year at about 10 and 10 hours of sun. It scores 7.7.
Good. Mild highs of 17°C and about 12 rain days, though rainfall rises to 105 mm. It scores 7.2.
OK. It gets cooler, with highs of 11°C, lows near 1°C and about 11 rain days. It scores 5.1.
Avoid. Highs of 6°C, lows of -3°C, about 12 rain days and the least sun of the year. It scores 2.7.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Georgia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, budget travellers, public transport users
The practical heart of town, along the main road and the river, with shops, a market, banks and eateries. It is handy for marshrutkas and trains, and the park is an easy walk away. Drawback: traffic on the main road can be noisy, and the area feels more functional than charming.
Good for couples, quiet stays, spa-goers
A green, calm area on the western edge of town, known for the former Romanov palace grounds and resort-style sanatoriums along the river. It suits people who want forest walks and rest more than restaurants. Drawback: it is a longer walk or a short taxi ride from the centre, with fewer places to eat.
Good for families, views, longer stays
Residential streets climbing the slopes around town, where many guesthouses are in family homes with gardens. They are quiet at night and often have views over the valley and forest. Drawback: the streets are steep, which is hard work with luggage or small children, and some have rough access roads.
Good for hikers, nature lovers, people with a car
A small village in the forest on the road towards Bakuriani, with cooler air and pine woods. It is a good base if you want to hike and escape the town crowds. Drawback: you depend on a car, taxi or the narrow-gauge train, and there are very few shops or restaurants.
The town's best-known product. This salty, naturally fizzy water comes from local springs. Visitors fill bottles at the spring in Borjomi Central Park, and it is sold across Georgia.
Bread filled with melted cheese. It is eaten all over Georgia, not only here. In Borjomi's cafés it is a common, filling choice for lunch or dinner.
Large dumplings filled with spiced meat and hot broth. You hold them by the top knot and drink the broth first. Many restaurants in and around town serve them.
Pieces of meat, often pork, grilled on skewers over an open fire. Georgians often cook it outdoors on weekends and at family gatherings in the countryside.
Walnuts on a string, dipped many times in thickened grape juice until they form a chewy coating. It is sold at street stalls and makes an easy snack for walks.
Young green pine cones cooked slowly in sugar syrup. Local sellers offer jars of it around town, along with other homemade jams.
September is the best month to visit Borjomi, with the highest score of the year at 7.7 out of 10. Days reach about 23°C and nights drop to around 12°C. It also has the fewest rain days, at 9.7, and about 10 hours of sun a day. October (7.2) and April (6.7) are good alternatives.
August is an OK month for Borjomi, with a score of 5.7 out of 10. It is the warmest month, with highs of 28°C and lows of about 16°C. It is also the driest: 52 mm of rain over 10.9 rain days, and 12 hours of sun a day.
Winter in Borjomi is cold, and nights are below freezing. In January, highs are about 5°C and lows about -5°C, with 12.4 rain days. December brings 108 mm of rain and only 5.8 hours of sun a day. January (2.1) and December (2.7) have the lowest scores of the year.
Yes, spring is one of the wettest times in Borjomi. May has the most rain days of the year, at 17.2, and 119 mm of rain. March has 16.6 rain days. April is a bit drier, with 13.9 rain days, and scores 6.7 out of 10, with highs of about 15°C.
Plan at least 1 full day for the town and add time for the national park. Borjomi Central Park takes 2–3 hours, and the Sulphur Pools and the old town streets take 1–2 hours each. The cable car and the local museum take about 1 hour each. Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park needs from half a day to several days.
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