Vardzia Cave City & Borjomi — Day Trip

Wrapped in the forests of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, this spa town has drawn visitors to its mineral springs since the days when it served as a fashionable retreat of the Russian Empire and hosted the Romanovs. Sip the famous water straight from the source in the central park, wander trails alive with wildlife, and tour the regal Romanov Palace. Cap the day with trout in walnut sauce and a slower, restorative pace.

Cut into a cliff above the Mtkvari River, Vardzia is a 12th-century cave city ordered by Queen Tamar during Georgia's Golden Age. A 1283 earthquake sheared away the outer rock and laid the warren of chambers open to view. Inside the Church of the Dormition, original frescoes survive, including a portrait of Tamar herself. You can also trace the Royal Chambers, the qvevri wine cellars, the rock-cut bell tower, and the hidden tunnels of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

One of the oldest fortresses in Georgia, guarding the junction of two rivers in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Functional throughout the Georgian feudal period, it stands on the road to the Vardzia cave city.