Att besöka Bordzjomi - en avslappnad kurort i Georgien

What is it like to visit Bordzjomi? This classic Georgian spa town is a quiet little oasis, where you can do little more than stroll through parks, drink healing waters, swim in sulphur baths or hang out in spa hotels. In other words, this is a great place to unwind.

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Bordzjomi in Georgia

Bordzjomi (or Borjomi as it is spelled in English) is a holiday resort where people go to relax. It is also known for its mineral water production.

Bordzhomi is located in central Georgia, about 160 kilometres west of the capital Tbilisi.

Bordzjomi - a historic spa town

In the Middle Ages there were several forts in the area now known as Bordzjomi. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the area belonged to the noble Avalishvili family, but due to Ottoman incursions, the region became more and more depopulated.

After Georgia came under Russian control at the beginning of the 19th century, soldiers began to be stationed in Bordzhomi. The soldiers discovered springs in the area and began constructing buildings and baths in the 1830s.

Bordzjomi's mild climate, healing springs and green forests soon made it a popular holiday destination for the aristocracy, which can be seen today in the town's beautiful villas.

After the Red Army invaded Georgia in 1921, the Soviet regime confiscated all the aristocratic mansions and turned them into sanatoriums for the Communist Party elite. In the post-Soviet years, the resort suffered some economic decline, but new investment has made Bordzhomi a popular holiday destination again.

Bordzjomi Central Park and sulphur baths

When in Bordzjomi, it is natural to visit Bordzjomi Central Park. Here you can walk in beautiful surroundings and there are also plenty of activities for families with children.

One of the most important things in the park is the spring water, which is available to drink from a tap, under a beautiful dome. We contented ourselves with a taste, but outside the park large plastic cans are sold, so we guess it is common to fill up larger quantities to take home.

The Borjomula River flows through the long park, and there is also a high cascading waterfall.

The entire walk, from the park entrance to the sulphur baths, is 3 kilometres long through lush and beautiful countryside.

Once we got to the famous sulphur baths, you had to pay a small fee to get in. The lady behind the door was generally grumpy, only accepted cash and had no change, so you had to have small change. The guards were more cheerful and played loud music, which offered a really nice atmosphere.

We were lucky, and although it was late October and relatively chilly, the sun's intense rays warmed us up considerably. The water was cool in some of the pools, but a little warmer in another.

Cable car with a view

A cable car runs from the park entrance to the top of the city's Ferris wheel. For a small fee, it is possible to go up to the top. However, there is also a car road up, and we chose to take the car instead.

No matter how you get up here, it's well worth the effort. The views from up here, over Bordzjomi and the surrounding mountains, are absolutely stunning.

At the top there is a restaurant and the aforementioned Ferris wheel. To get to the wheel we had to pass a bunch of curious cows. This is often the case in Georgia. Dogs, sheep and cows roam freely everywhere.

Temple of Saint Seraphim of Sarov

At the top of the hill in Bordzjomi you can also get to Temple of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. This small church building honours Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who lived in the 18th century.

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Just outside Bordzjomi is one of Georgia's largest national parks: Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. At the entrance there is a tourist office-like office, with a small exhibition similar to those you can see in Swedish nature centres.

The park is home to 64 species of mammals, 11 of which are endemic to the Caucasus. There are also 217 different kinds of birds here.

Crowne Plaza in Bordzjomi - hotel with spa

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza in Bordzjomi. When we first saw the hotel, we imagined that this was an ancient old spa hotel. It wasn't really - the hotel is only eight years old - but nevertheless it was beautiful, both inside and out.

The restaurant, which offers a slightly more exclusive feel, serves a mix of European and Georgian food, with a slightly creative touch.

As we entered the restaurant, another couple of guests came up to us and greeted us, as if they knew us. How was that possible? Well, it was a woman who had guided us to a museum in Tbilisi a few days earlier. Now she was in Bordzjomi for a relaxing spa weekend with her daughter.

And yes, there is a very nice spa in the hotel. Guests have the pool, gym and sauna included in the price, and you can pay extra for treatments. We enjoyed an early morning swim in the large pool. A really good start to the day!

More to see and do in Georgia

There is, of course, much more to see and do in Georgia, in addition to visiting the spa town of Bordzjomi. We can highly recommend visiting the capital Tbilisi, with its popular sulphur bath. It is also interesting to discover the historic city Mtscheta, wine regions Kakhetia, mountain area Kazbegi, the historic cave city Uplistsikhe and the Black Sea destination Batumi.

Spa i Tbilisi — Sulphur baths in Tbilisi

Would you like to visit Bordzjomi?

Would you like to visit Bordzjomi? Maybe you've already been here, or have you visited any other traditional spa town in Europe? Please tell us in a comment!

Facts about Bordzjomi in Georgia

Country: Georgia
Region: Samtsche-Dzhavakhetia
Location: Central Georgia, about 160 kilometres west of the capital Tbilisi.
Residents: Just over 11 000 (2024)
Travelling to Bordzjomi: You can get to Bordzhomi from Tbilisi by train or by shared mini-van (mashrutka-van). You can also rent a car or book a car with a driver. Read more about driving in Georgia here.