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📍 Borjomi: a spa town in a forested valley in central Georgia, roughly 160–170 km from Tbilisi and about 130 km from Kutaisi.
Is a Car Worth It in Borjomi?
The town centre and the park entrance are walkable, but the national park trailheads, the villages and the road to Vardzia are far apart and buses run rarely. A car lets you start early and combine sights in a day.
Our advice: spend a night in Borjomi on a loop between Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and ask the agency to deliver the car to your hotel or hand it over on the road.
Drive Times from Borjomi
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Borjomi-Kharagauli park entrance | ~10–25 km | about 20–45 min |
| Akhaltsikhe | ~35–40 km | about 45–60 min |
| Vardzia | ~100–110 km | about 2–2.5 hours |
| Kutaisi | ~130 km | about 2.5 hours |
| Tbilisi | ~160–170 km | about 2.5–3 hours |
The Valley Road and Trucks
The road through the valley carries lorries between regions and has bends and slow climbs. The national park roads are narrow, and some forest tracks are unpaved: insurance is not valid off the paved road. In winter, snow and ice affect the higher sections.
- Stay on paved roads and park at trailheads
- Allow extra time on the road behind lorries
- Fines from police and cameras are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Borjomi, or collected in Tbilisi, Kutaisi or at an airport. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- International Driving Permit (IDP) may be required or advised depending on where your licence was issued — many visitors can use a national licence for a limited period, but the rules change, so ask the agency exactly what you need before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Fines and parking are billed separately, and cover is void in the occupied regions. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Borjomi: Roads and Habits
Lorries slow traffic on climbs and drivers overtake on blind bends. Animals graze at the road edge, and fog is common in the valley in the morning.
- Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left and give way as signed at roundabouts
- Local driving is fast and assertive: expect sudden lane changes, tailgating, overtaking on blind bends and horns used freely — keep a large gap and stay calm
- Speed limits are signed (typically 60 km/h in towns and higher on main roads and motorway sections); speed cameras and police checks are common
- Strict drink-driving limit with heavy penalties — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Cows, sheep, pigs, dogs and horses wander onto roads, often at night and around bends — avoid driving after dark outside towns
- Mountain roads (Military Highway, Gudauri, Kazbegi, Svaneti) can have snow, ice, landslides and closures from about November to April; carry chains or winter tyres and check road status before you set out
- Do not take the car off the paved road: insurance is not valid off-road
- Do not enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia: entry from Georgian-controlled territory is illegal, dangerous and makes your rental insurance void
- Cross-border trips (for example to Armenia, Turkey or Azerbaijan) are allowed only with the agency's written permission