What to see. Best top attractions in Sochi, Russia. 

Visit Nautilus Aqua park, Pobedy str., 2/1 – Lazarevskoe.

Try Yachting, Kite surfing, Alpine skiing

Buy Local specialties

• Krasnodar tea. This is the only tea sort grown in Russia, being the northernmost one in the world (due to climate conditions, it’s impossible to cultivate tea to the north from Sochi). Tea plantations of Greater Sochi are located in Dagomys, Solokhaul(Lazarevskoe district) and Adler. The amount of their production is limited, so it’s not easy to meet it outside Krasnodar Krai. Baloven  tea brand by Dagomys Tea Plant is available at Sochi shops. Group tours to tea plants are also available. 
• Local alcohol. Surpisingly, Russia is the 11th-largest wine producer in the world. 60% of all Russian wine is manufactured in Krasnodar Krai. In Sochi and around there is possible to buy many kinds of this drink, starting from home-made and market-sold wine in no-brand plastic bottles, finishing with premium-class aged wine and brandy in souvenir boxes. To avoid fake brand production buy it at the city’s chain stores, such as Magnit, Karusel, Kairosor Perekryostok.
  • Abrau Durso sparkling wines. Abrau Durso (plant located near Novorossiysk) is the leading and the best-known Russian producer of a wide array of sparkling wines, from odious “Soviet Shampagne” to the exclusive Imperial and Millesimewine collections. The production technology is based on traditional shampagnoise method. Abrau Durso wine is distributed to all Russian regions and exported. The price varies greatly depending on the collection item.
  • Abkhazian wines. There are several brands of wine from Abkhazia those are widely common in Russian shops and popular for their inimitative taste. Apsny – red semi-sweet wine from the mix of Cabernet, Sovignon, Merlot and Saperavi grape. Chegem) – red dry wine from Cabernet grape. Lykhny – red semi-sweet wine from Isabella grape. Psou  – white semi-sweet wine from Aligote and Riesling grape. 
  • Brand wines of Krasnodar Krai. The best wine brands in the region are Fanagoria and Myskhako , both produced in Novorossiysk area and having the wide assortment. 
  • Brandy. This alcohol drink is called Cognac at Russian domestic market, but is exported as Brandy due to necessity to follow the copyright of Cognac province of France. Together with Dagestan and Stavropol Krai, Krasnodar Krai is among 3 regions of Russia, those grape is acceptable for brandy production. The factory in Temryuk town located near Taman makes the best brandy in Krasnodar Krai, including the aged and souvenir collection. 

Krasnodar Krai is probably one of Southern Russia’s most safe regions. Sochi does not stand out with the higher crime rate, but standard safety precautions should be used. There is a saying in Russia: “Nights are dark in Sochi” and this can be explained as that anyone or anything can get lost in the city.

A little outside of Sochi

Abkhazia

Once a flourishing sea resort autonomy and a part of Soviet Georgia, this mountainous Caucasian republic passed through a bloody civil war with Georgians after the Soviet Union collapse, proclaimed its independence and was supported by Russia, but yet unrecognized by most countries. Honestly loved by many Russian tourists, Abkhazia is undeservedly mostly unknown by travellers from other parts of the world.

Abkhazia is quite small and can be quickly discovered within a weekend, but longer stay is certainly needed for deeper impressions. The monastery and the cave at New Athos, as well as Lake Ritsa, are definitely among most amazing places at the Black Sea. This breathtaking beauty mixed with Abkhazian poverty and the remains of the civil war will leave no one indifferent. Locals are very friendly, but only few of them will understand anything in English.

Sochi is the only place with Abkhazia border crossing possibility from Russian side. There is a crossing point at Vesyoloe (southern part of Adler district). It can be crossed both by foot and by car/bus (two separate bridges through the border Psou river). Coming to Abkhazia by foot, you will find a marshrutka parking right after the bridge – a cheap opportunity to reach any key destination of the country. The Abkhazian capital Sukhum is also reachable by a direct bus from Sochi, and a commuter train (elektrichka) is planned to start operate in 2011. There is also option to get to Gagra, Abkhazia by boat from Sochi port.

Going to Abkhazia be prepared to comply with Abkhazian visa requirements. Be also aware that, to return back to Russia after a trip, you may need double-entry or multi-entry Russian visa.

Adygea

A fully enclaved into Krasnodar Krai small national autonomy, neighboring to Greater Sochi, Adygea has a significant tourist potential, which is underestimated by the moment. Rafting, waterfall seeing, trekking and other mountain activities in front of awesome Caucasus views make this destination very promising. It is also important that Adygea is safer than any other Caucasian region except Krasnodar Krai.

Maykop, the capital of Adygea, is accessible from Sochi by train (daily, 6 hours) and bus (1-2 daily plus transit buses, 8 hours). There is also an option to reach Adygea by car (6-8 hours via Tuapse). An extreme alternative to that is the mountainous unpaved direct road connecting Sochi with Adygea via Caucasus ridges. Be more than careful using it.

Caucasian Biosphere Reserve

This natural reserve has the second-largest protected area in Europe and the largest one in Caucasus Mountains. It occupies the mountain ridges of Krasnodar Krai, Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia, including part of Greater Sochi metropolitan area (Khosta district and Krasnaya Polyana), bordering Sochi National Park.

Caucasian Biosphere Reserve is the richest biodiversity treasury, having no equivalents in Russia and an international value as a piece of untouched nature with primeval habitats. Reasonably, this unique area is included into the UNESCO World Heritage List. The official site of the reserve is available in Russian only.

Two exclaved parts of the reserve, those are located inside Greater Sochi, are easy to visit: yew & boxtree wood at Khosta and the wild animals nursery at Krasnaya Polyana. To visit other parts of the reserve, you need to get special permit, requiring the following:

• list of participants,
• passport details and passport copies of each participant,
• name of the group’s leader,
• planned route/itinerary,
• period of stay (number of days),
• Entrance fee.

In Sochi you can get the permit at the reserve’s headquarter: Karl Marx street, 8, room 10, Adler district, Sochi.

Gelendzhik

A resort town located at the Black Sea coast to the north-west from Sochi, one of the most popular domestic summer destinations of Russia. Gelendzhik has both natural and leisure attractions. Gelendzhik’s aquapark is the largest in the country, and its surroundings have very beautiful scenery. The town is home to International Sea Aviation Conference, which is conducted there each two years.

Gelendzhik is a transit point for several buses going from Sochi (4-5 daily). A ride will take 5.5 hours. The Sea Flight fast ferry going from Sochi to Novorossiysk and back also makes stops at Gelendzhik.

Novorossiysk

This Krasnodar Krai’s 3rd largest city is the biggest Russian port at the Black Sea and the main cement industry center in Southern Russia. The majority of the city’s tourist attractions are related to the Second World War, when Novorossiysk was among Russian key battlefields. The most known memorials are Malaya Zemlya, Defence Line (Rubezh Oborony) and Death Valley (Dolina Smerti).

Novorossiysk’s vicinities have beautiful nature of Caucasus foothills. On the top of local natural wonders is the amazing Abrau lake, the biggest one at Northern Caucasus. Just nearby the wine manufacture of Abrau-Dyurso is located, making this place the capital of Russian champagne / sparkling wine (tours to Abrau-Dyurso with wine testing are available). There are also several smaller beach resorts around the city.

There are several ways to get from Sochi to Novorossiysk. Buses go daily (8.5 hours). Sea Flight speed ferry connection operates from May to October, 3 times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). One-way ride will cost 1,800-2,700 RUR, taking about 5 hours. It is also possible to get to Novorossiysk by train via Krasnodar.

Tuapse

Another important Russian port at the Black Sea and the closest neighbor town bordering Greater Sochi. This is mostly industrial and transport hub, attracting fewer number of tourists, than other Russian Black Sea coastal locations. But anyway, Tuapse is good for a single-day trip from Sochi. After a look at the downtown, the awesome surroundings should be visited. There are several very scenic cliffs around, the top of those is Kiselev’s Rock, a 46 meter upright cliff breaking down into the sea. Quite many ancient cultural remains, such as table-stones, are also located around Tuapse.

Any elektrichka or long-distance train from Sochi stops in Tuapse, the frequent bus/marshrutka connection is also available. Expect 2 – 2,5 hours for one-way trip from Central Sochi.