ბორჯომის ცენტრალური პარკი
Historic 1850 spa park with the original Borjomi mineral spring and cable car over the gorge
Borjomi Central Park is the main attraction of the resort town of Borjomi, located in the Kura River gorge at 800–850 m elevation, 160 km southwest of Tbilisi. Founded in 1850, the park occupies a narrow wooded valley. At its center is a glass pavilion housing the Ekaterina Spring, where visitors fill bottles with Borjomi mineral water for free.
From Tbilisi: 2–2.5 hours by shared minibus (marshrutka) from Didube station (10 GEL / ~$4), or 4 hours by train (8–15 GEL / ~$3–6). By car along the S1 highway – about 2 hours.
Allow 2–3 hours for the park. Family-friendly: rides, playgrounds, swimming pools. Entry is 5 GEL (~$2). The mineral water spring is free.
The park entrance is on 9 April Street – Borjomi's main tourist promenade. Just past the gate stands a domed glass pavilion with taps dispensing warm mineral water that rises from 8–10 km underground, pushed up by natural carbon dioxide pressure and containing over 60 minerals. The water has a distinctive salty-sulfuric taste. Nearby: ice cream kiosks, souvenir shops, and sand-brewed coffee stalls.
A 3 km tree-lined path leads deeper into the gorge along the river. Along the way: a Ferris wheel, rope adventure course, zipline, and children's rides. At the end of the path – a waterfall and a Prometheus statue framed by two cascades plunging from the cliff walls on either side. Another 2 km upstream – open-air sulfur pools with water at 27–38°C (entry 5 GEL).
To the right of the entrance is the cable car station. A single open-air cabin (no glass walls, wooden benches) ascends to a mountain plateau at 1,000 m in about 5 minutes. From the top – panoramic views over the gorge, the town, and surrounding pine forests. The upper station has a café and viewing platform.
Ekaterina Spring – mineral water from a 8–10 km deep borehole, +38°C at the surface, free to taste and fill bottles
Cable car – 15 GEL (~$6) one way, 5-minute ride to a plateau at 1,000 m elevation
Sulfur pools – 3 pools (1 children's, 2 adult), water 27–38°C, entry 5 GEL (~$2)
Prometheus sculpture – monument between two waterfalls at the gorge's end, 3 km from the entrance
Activities – Ferris wheel, zipline, rope course, playgrounds
History – park established in 1850 as a retreat for Russian aristocracy
The healing properties of Borjomi water were discovered by chance in the early 19th century. In 1850, the Caucasus viceroy Count Vorontsov established a spa park around the spring. By the late 1800s, Borjomi had become a fashionable resort for Russian aristocracy and the imperial family. The Romanov Palace was built nearby in the 1890s, and in 1898, the first hydroelectric power plant in the Russian Empire was constructed in Likani to supply the palace with electricity.
During the Soviet era, the park became a public health resort, and Borjomi grew into one of the USSR's main balneological centers with state-funded sanatoriums. After the Soviet collapse, infrastructure deteriorated. Major renovations in the 2000s–2010s restored pathways, added amusement rides, and rebuilt the cable car. Borjomi mineral water production remains one of Georgia's most recognizable export brands.
Park entry: 5 GEL (~$2) per person
Cable car: 15 GEL (~$6) one way
Sulfur pools: 5 GEL (~$2), towels provided, bring your own swimsuit
Mineral water spring: free – bring your own bottle
Rides: paid separately (zipline, rope course, Ferris wheel)
Guide: ~20 GEL, available in Georgian, Russian, English
Cash and card accepted at the ticket office.
No major restrictions. For the sulfur pools – bring your own swimsuit and flip-flops. The cable car has no enclosed walls – supervise children carefully. The trail to the pools is uneven in places – wear comfortable shoes. The path to the waterfall can be slippery after rain.
On-site: cafés, food and ice cream kiosks, souvenir shops, toilets, ATM, first aid station
Parking: along 9 April Street near the entrance, free but limited spaces
Wi-Fi: none. 4G works reliably
Accessibility: the entrance area and main promenade are wheelchair/stroller-friendly. Golf carts available for in-park transport. The trail to pools and cable car – walking only
From Tbilisi (160 km, 2–2.5 hours):
– Shared minibus (marshrutka) from Didube station – 10 GEL (~$4), every 30–60 min (8:00–18:00)
– Train from Central Station – 8–15 GEL (~$3–6), 4 hours, 2 departures daily. Get off at Borjomi-Park station
– Bolt taxi – 150–200 GEL (~$55–75)
– Car rental – via S1 highway, ~2 hours
From Bakuriani (30 km, 40 minutes):
– Taxi – 20–25 GEL (~$8–10)
– The narrow-gauge "Kukushka" railway is closed (since 2020)
In town:
From Borjomi bus station to the park entrance – 15–20 min walk along 9 April Street. From Borjomi-Park train station – 10 min walk.
Season: May–October for comfortable weather and all attractions operating. September–October for vivid autumn foliage in the gorge.
Time of day: Morning (before 11:00) – fewer crowds at the spring. Afternoon for the cable car – softer light for photos.
Duration: 2–3 hours for the park and cable car. With sulfur pools and the waterfall walk – 4–5 hours.
Avoid: Summer weekends (July–August) – crowded around the spring. In winter, the cable car may close due to weather.
Practical answers about visiting, routes and time on site.
5 GEL (~$2) per person. The mineral water spring inside the park is free. Bring your own bottle.
2–3 hours for the main park with the cable car. If walking to the sulfur pools (3 km in) and swimming – 4–5 hours.
Yes. In the glass pavilion near the entrance – taps with mineral water. The water is warm (~38°C) with a distinctive salty-mineral taste. Bring your own container.
Shared minibus (marshrutka) from Didube metro station in Tbilisi – 10 GEL (~$4), 2–2.5 hours, departures every 30–60 min. Train – 8–15 GEL (~$3–6), 4 hours.
Yes. Playgrounds, rides, Ferris wheel, children's pool. The main promenade is flat and stroller-friendly.
The park is open year-round. The cable car may close in bad weather. The sulfur pools operate – bathing in warm water is pleasant even in winter.
Romanov Palace – 3 km from the center. Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park – visitor center 2 km from the park. Bakuriani – 30 km, 40 min by taxi.
Cafés inside the park (average bill 15–25 GEL / ~$6–10). Restaurants on 9 April Street near the entrance serve Georgian cuisine (25–40 GEL / ~$10–15 per person). Sand-brewed coffee – 3–5 GEL.
