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RussiaDescription and whether it's worth visiting
Mineral medicinal spring Yessentuki No. 4 is one of two active fountain pavilions in Kurortny Park in Yessentuki and, perhaps, the largest drinking gallery in the country. There are always a lot of people here, and a particularly long line forms around opening time — and that happens three times a day.
Yessentuki No. 4 water is a classic medicinal chloride-bicarbonate sodium water. It is used in the treatment of chronic gastritis (with normal, low, and high acidity), gastric and duodenal ulcers, liver and biliary tract diseases, pancreatitis, obesity, pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, cystitis, urethritis, and salt and lipid metabolism disorders.
Important: Don't self-medicate. The water from the spring is genuinely medicinal, with a strong therapeutic effect, not just a preventative drink like the bottled version sold in stores. It's best to drink it as prescribed by a doctor while undergoing treatment at one of the sanatoriums in Yessentuki.
Our honest opinion on whether it's worth visiting: If you're vacationing in Yessentuki and walking through Kurortny Park, you won't miss the fountain pavilion anyway. You can stop in, take a look, and try a small amount to understand the taste of the famous water. But making a special trip here to "drink up" without a doctor's prescription isn't a great idea. The water is potent, and uncontrolled consumption can be harmful. It's better to treat this place as an attraction, not as a cafeteria with free drinks.
🕐 Fountain pavilion hours for spring No. 4
Daily, no days off, in sessions:
7:00 AM – 9:30 AM
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
💵 Entry fee / ticket prices
Entry to the fountain pavilion is free. A disposable cup costs about 2 RUB (check on site).
Takeaway water: 7 RUB per liter (poured into a plastic bottle). In practice, they don't strictly monitor people filling their own containers, but it's better to follow the rules.
🚶 How to get there
The spring is located in Kurortny Park in Yessentuki, almost in the very center, near the main alley (spring No. 4 on the map). It's a 3–5 minute walk from the fountain pavilion of spring No. 17.
Tip for tourists: If you decide to try the water, don't drink it cold — it should be at room temperature. Don't exceed the recommended dose (usually 200–250 ml per serving, no more than 3–4 times a day; it's best to check the exact dosage with a doctor). And don't take water to go — it loses its medicinal properties within a few hours.
We recommend exploring interesting places in Yessentuki through tours. You can buy them from street vendors, but it's more reliable to do it online through these trusted review sites:
- 📷 Search for tours in Yessentuki on Tripster.ru
- 📷 Search for tours in Yessentuki on Sputnik8.com
- 📷 Tours in Yessentuki from the tour operator TEZ Tour