Nunisi

By Mariam Lomidze, GTour desk · Fact-checked against the sources listed · Last checked 17 October 2026 · Editorial policy

Overview

Nunisi is a small balneological resort village in the Kharagauli area that borders Samtskhe-Javakheti, set in a wooded valley on the southern slopes that lead toward the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. It lies roughly 3 h 25 min by road from Tbilisi, about 1 h 55 min from Kutaisi and around 4 h from Batumi, at coordinates 41.9486, 43.4096. The place is known for warm mineral springs, a grove of very old plane trees and a working convent, a combination that has made it a modest but long-standing health and pilgrimage stop rather than a mass-tourism destination.

Nunisi matters because it preserves, on a small scale, several threads of Georgian regional life at once: a medieval monastic foundation still in use, a Soviet-era tradition of open-air mineral bathing, and the forested approach to one of the country’s largest protected areas. For visitors building a wider itinerary across Samtskhe-Javakheti, it offers a quiet half-day or overnight stop between Kutaisi and Borjomi. GTour includes Nunisi in private tours on request, combining it with the verified places and other destinations in the region.

History

The convent and its grounds, shaded by an unusually old grove of Oriental plane trees, functioned as a quiet religious and agricultural center for the surrounding villages of what is now Kharagauli Municipality.

In the twentieth century, Nunisi’s warm mineral-nitrogen springs were developed into a modest sanatorium-style resort, part of the broader Soviet practice of building balneological facilities around Georgia’s mineral water sites, a pattern also seen at nearby Borjomi. The resort infrastructure contracted after the 1990s, when many regional sanatoria lost state funding, and Nunisi today functions more as a village with pools and guesthouses fed by the springs than as a large institutional spa. The convent has remained active, and renewed interest in rural and wellness tourism in Samtskhe-Javakheti and neighboring Imereti has brought a slow revival of visits to the site.

What to see

Nunisi Convent (Dormition of the Mother of God)

The convent church is the historical center of the village, a modest stone building that has been repaired across several periods and remains in active use by a small community of nuns. Visitors are welcome outside services, provided they dress modestly, and the shaded churchyard is a quiet place to pause after bathing in the springs.

The plane tree grove

A cluster of very old Oriental plane trees stands around the convent and the mineral pools, their canopy giving the whole site a distinctive, cool microclimate even in summer. Locally the trees are considered some of the most striking in the region and are part of what distinguishes Nunisi from other mineral-water villages in Georgia.

Warm mineral springs and pools

Nunisi’s nitrogen-rich thermal water feeds a series of open-air pools near the village, used by both locals and visitors for informal bathing rather than as a resort complex. The water is mild rather than hot, and the setting among old trees is as much the attraction as the mineral content itself.

Approach to Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Nunisi sits close to the forested hills that form part of the wider protected landscape around Borjomi and Kharagauli, managed nationally by the Agency of Protected Areas. Walkers based in Nunisi can use it as a quiet, low-key starting point before continuing into the park’s marked trail network further along the Borjomi side.

Getting there

From Tbilisi, the drive to Nunisi takes about 3 h 25 min, following the main highway west toward Khashuri and then turning south through Kharagauli before climbing into the valley; check current conditions on the road status page before departure, particularly in winter. From Kutaisi the drive is shorter, around 1 h 55 min, via Zestafoni and Kharagauli on mostly paved secondary roads. From Batumi, allow roughly 4 h, combining the coastal-to-inland highway through Kutaisi with the same approach through Kharagauli.

Public transport options are limited. Marshrutkas run from Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi to Kharagauli, the nearest town with regular connections, from where a taxi or pre-arranged transfer is needed to cover the final stretch into Nunisi. There is no direct passenger rail service to the village itself, though the main Tbilisi–Kutaisi–Batumi railway line passes through the wider region; for most travellers, a private car or an organised transfer is the more practical choice, which GTour can arrange with an English-speaking driver or guide.

When to go

Late spring through early autumn, roughly May to September, is the most comfortable period, when the outdoor pools and the shaded grove are at their best and mountain roads are clear. The mineral water itself is warm rather than seasonal, so visits earlier or later in the year are possible, but access roads can be affected by snow or rain outside the warmer months, so it is worth checking the road status page in advance. Visitors planning to combine Nunisi with hiking near the national park should aim for the drier months, when trail conditions are most predictable.

Where to stay and eat

Nunisi itself has only a handful of small guesthouses built around the mineral springs, and formal restaurant choice in the village is limited, with most travellers eating home-style meals arranged through their accommodation. For planning purposes, the nearest fuller range of verified services, including accommodation advice and local information, is the Borjomi Tourist Information Center, a short drive away and a useful stop before or after visiting Nunisi. GTour’s verified register lists more hotels, guesthouses and places to eat across Samtskhe-Javakheti below, and can combine Nunisi with Borjomi, Kutaisi or other stops as part of a private itinerary.

Practical notes

Mobile signal and card payment can be unreliable in Nunisi itself, so carrying cash is advisable. Modest dress is expected when visiting the convent, and visitors bathing in the open-air pools should bring their own swimwear and towels, as facilities are basic. There are no ATMs in the village; the nearest banking and fuel services are in Kharagauli or Borjomi, both worth factoring into a day’s planning.

Questions travellers ask

Is Nunisi a developed spa resort or a village?

Nunisi is primarily a village with mineral springs and simple open-air pools rather than a large, developed spa complex. Its facilities are modest compared with major Georgian wellness destinations, and its appeal lies in the setting rather than resort infrastructure.

Can visitors swim in the mineral pools?

Yes, the open-air pools fed by the warm nitrogen-mineral springs are used informally by locals and visitors. Facilities are basic, so travellers should bring their own towels and swimwear.

Is the Nunisi Convent open to visitors?

The convent is an active religious community, and visitors are generally welcome outside of services if dressed modestly. It is courteous to be quiet and respectful, as it remains a working nunnery rather than a museum site.

How far is Nunisi from Borjomi?

Nunisi lies a relatively short drive from Borjomi, making it feasible to combine the two in a single day trip, particularly when travelling with a private driver or guide.

Is it possible to visit Nunisi by public transport alone?

It is possible but inconvenient, since marshrutkas reach Kharagauli but do not run directly into Nunisi. Most visitors arrange a taxi from Kharagauli or use a private transfer for the final leg.

What is the best time of year to visit?

Late spring to early autumn offers the most reliable road conditions and the most pleasant setting under the plane trees. Winter visits are possible but depend on weather and road conditions in the hills.

Are there hiking trails directly from Nunisi?

Nunisi sits near the approach to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park, managed by the Agency of Protected Areas, but the main marked trail network is centred further toward Borjomi and Likani. Nunisi is better used as a quiet stop than a trailhead in its own right.

Does Nunisi have hotels suitable for overnight stays?

Accommodation is limited to a small number of guesthouses built around the springs rather than full-service hotels. Travellers wanting more choice typically base themselves in Borjomi and visit Nunisi as a day stop.

Can GTour arrange a private visit to Nunisi?

Yes, GTour arranges private transfers and guided itineraries that include Nunisi alongside Borjomi, Kutaisi and other sites in the region. Contact GTour to plan timing, transport and accommodation around the visit.

Sources

• Agency of Protected Areas
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — Samtskhe Javakheti region
• Agency of Protected Areas of Georgia — national parks