# Likani Romanov Palace — opening hours, tickets, how to get there and what to see

> gtour.ge — G Tour, Gateway to Georgia. Cite as: GTour desk, gtour.ge.

- Canonical: https://gtour.ge/sights/likani-romanov-palace/
- Author: David Kiknadze
- Published: 2026-10-27
- Updated: 2026-10-27
- Language: en
- Russian edition: https://gtour.ge/ru/sights/likani-romanov-palace/

Likani Palace (also known as the Romanov Palace or Likani Residence) stands on the forested right bank of the Mtkvari river a few kilometres from central Borjomi, in Samtskhe-Javakheti. Built as a summer residence for the Russian imperial family and completed in 1895, it is now a state residence of the Georgian government, which means it is normally viewed from outside rather than toured like a museum. It remains the most architecturally ambitious of the Romanov-era buildings scattered around Borjomi’s spa quarter.

### What you see

Likani Palace is a long, two-storey building in a mixed Russian and Alpine style, with steep timber-trimmed roofs, carved balconies and verandas facing the river, set inside a walled park of pine, cedar and deciduous trees that was laid out at the same time as the house. The grounds slope down to the Mtkvari, and the palace is visible, at least in part, from the public road and the riverside path that runs through Likani village toward the edge of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Because the building functions as a government residence, most visitors see the gatehouse, the perimeter wall and glimpses of the roofline and park rather than the interior.

### History

The palace was built between the early 1890s and 1895 as a summer residence connected to the family of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, who had served as Russian viceroy of the Caucasus, and it was used subsequently by other members of the Romanov household visiting [Borjomi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/borjomi/)‘s spa. After 1921 the house passed into Soviet hands and was used over the following decades as a state dacha and rest home, a period during which Soviet leaders, including figures from the top of the Communist Party, are recorded as having stayed there. Since Georgian independence the building has continued as an official state residence, used by the Georgian presidency and government for hosting visiting heads of state and for official functions, which is why entry is controlled rather than open to the general public. Borjomi’s wider spa development around the same decades, including the mineral-water bottling works that still supply the brand exported today, is documented in national tourism material (see georgia.travel).

*Image: Exterior view of the Likani Palace building in Borjomi. Photo: Eka Samkharadze / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0*

### Opening hours and tickets

Likani Palace is not a regular paid attraction. The park and building are a working state residence, and access is restricted outside organised official events. Viewing from the public riverside road and from the edge of the grounds is normally possible at any hour, weather and security arrangements permitting. Treat the figures below as the usual pattern; confirm current access before planning a special trip.

| Item | Usual pattern |
| --- | --- |
| Exterior viewing from public road/riverside | Generally unrestricted, daylight hours — checked at booking |
| Interior or grounds access | By special arrangement only, occasional cultural events — checked at booking |
| Entrance fee | Not applicable for exterior viewing; no public ticket office |

### How to get there

From [Tbilisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/tbilisi/), Borjomi is about two hours by car on the main highway through [Khashuri](https://gtour.ge/georgia/khashuri/) (roughly 155 km), and Likani is a further 10–15 minutes by road along the Mtkvari past the park gate. Frequent marshrutkas and a few daily trains run from Tbilisi to Borjomi; from the town centre, Likani is a short taxi ride or a flat 30–40 minute walk along the riverside path. From [Kutaisi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/kutaisi/), the drive is around two hours via Khashuri. With us, Likani is normally included as a viewing stop on the Borjomi, [Bakuriani](https://gtour.ge/georgia/bakuriani/) & [Rabati](https://gtour.ge/georgia/akhaltsikhe/) — 2 Days tour and the Vardzia, Rabati & Borjomi — 2 Days tour, or can be added to a private car-with-driver day from Tbilisi.

*Image: Early 20th-century color photograph of the Likani Palace by Prokudin-Gorskii. Photo: Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain*

### How long and the best time

Allow 20–30 minutes for the riverside walk and exterior views, longer if combined with a walk into the national park entrance nearby. Spring and autumn give the clearest light on the park’s trees and the river; summer is warm and the walking paths are busiest with spa-town visitors; winter is quiet and cold but the building and bare trees photograph well against snow.

### Tips

- Do not expect interior access: this is a working state residence, not a museum, so plan it as a short stop, not the centre of a day.

- Photography of the exterior and park wall from public ground is normally fine; avoid photographing security personnel or checkpoints.

- Combine the visit with the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park entrance, which is a short walk further along the same road.

- Wear comfortable shoes for the riverside path, which is unpaved in sections.

- Check road and park access conditions in winter, when snow can affect the walking route (see gtour.ge/road-status).

- There are few facilities directly at Likani; eat and drink in central Borjomi before or after.

### Nearby

- Borjomi Central Park and the original mineral spring pavilion

- Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park entrance and visitor centre

- Borjomi mineral water bottling area

- Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe

- Bakuriani ski resort

See it with G Tour

Likani Romanov Palace is on these private tours: [The South in 3 Days — Borjomi, Vardzia, Rabati and Abastumani](https://gtour.ge/tour/south-georgia-samtskhe-3-days/) · [Vardzia and Rabati — the Long Day South](https://gtour.ge/tour/vardzia-rabati-day-trip/) · [Borjomi and Bakuriani — Spa Town and Mountain Air in a Day](https://gtour.ge/tour/borjomi-bakuriani-day-trip/). A travel expert adapts any of them to your dates.

[See the tour](https://gtour.ge/tour/south-georgia-samtskhe-3-days/)   [Plan my trip](/plan-your-trip/)

### Questions

**Can tourists go inside Likani Palace?**
No, it functions as a state residence, and interior access is restricted to official events; most visitors see it from the road or riverside path.

**Is there an entrance fee?**
There is no public ticket office; exterior viewing from public ground is normally free, checked at booking for any special event access.

**How far is Likani from central Borjomi?**
About 3 km, a 10–15 minute drive or a 30–40 minute walk along the Mtkvari riverside path.

**When was the palace built?**
Construction was completed in 1895 as a summer residence connected to the Russian imperial family.

### Sources

- [Borjomi destination overview](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/georgia/borjomi)

- [Georgia travel, official tourism administration](https://georgia.travel)

Town page: [Borjomi](https://gtour.ge/georgia/borjomi/) · All sights: [sights of Georgia](/sights/) · Questions: info@castle.ge

The Likani Palace, the historic Romanov residence near Borjomi, Georgia. · Photo: Kober / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain