Sightseeing in Sochi - what to see. Complete travel guide

The most popular resort of the Krasnodar Krai is Sochi. It has been very popular with tourists from different countries for many years. Many Russians and people from neighboring countries come here to relax at the Black sea coast and admire the exotic nature. Culture events held in the city attract a lot of foreign guests too. Sochi is the only subtropical resort in the country. The local nature and climate are really unique.

The resort is famous for its upscale wellness centers and sanatoriums. There are more than half of the wellness centers of Krasnodar Krai. Those travelers who want to spend several days at the resort have a really huge choice of hotels, guesthouses and wellness centers. Today, there are over 220 hospitality venues in the city that can accommodate 70 000 people.

Despite the fact that tourists have a wide choice of hotels, they should book rooms in advance, as Sochi is visited by many tourists even in winter. Sochi is one of the largest balneological resorts in Russia. There are over 50 mineral springs. Near some of them, there are upscale wellness centers. The first of them started to welcome patients at the beginning of the 20th century. The mineral water is not the only value of the resort. In Adlersky City District, there are invaluable deposits of healing mud. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Besides upscale wellness centers, the popular resort is famous for its multiple entertainment venues. A wide choice of well-equipped beaches and water parks, dolphinariums and zoos, arboretums with unique plants and large sports centers, picturesque southern markets and modern shopping malls... The guests of Sochi can choose any place for every taste.

The resort will also impress fans of extreme sports. The mountainous area is perfect for mountaineers and sportsmen wanting to hang-glide or raft down the river. Sochi will not bore skiers too. The actively developing village of Krasnaya Polyana attracts a lot of skiing fans. In the summer, a lot of interesting cultural events and festivals that can diversify your vacation are often held in the city.

At the popular resort, the sightseeing tour will really impress you. The Sochi Arboretum where you can see rare and very beautiful plants is very popular with tourists. There are rare oaks, Australian eucalyptus, rare agaves, and exotic plants. When looking over the arboretum, you can admire birds dwelling here. There are also several excellent viewing platforms that have a wonderful view of the city.

Ahun Mount is a special nature and historic object. It is about 660 m high. The mount is quite “flat”, so ascent of which will require no special skills. There are a lot of hiking routes in the submontane area. When walking here, tourists can admire relic trees and beautiful caves. On top of the mountain, there is a small park where you can see the old tower and visit several viewing platforms.

In Sochi, there is one of the oldest temples, the Cathedral of Archangel Michael, on the Black Sea Coast. It was built in the second half of the 19th century after the Caucasus War. Since its construction, the cathedral has remained almost unchangeable. Now, it is located on the territory of the beautiful park and surrounded by nearby constructions, with which it forms the incomparable architectural complex. In the cathedral, you can see beautiful decorative elements and old icons.

You should certainly visit the Sochi Art Museum. It occupies the magnificent building with columns and was built in the 30s of the last century. The first museum was opened here in 1972. Today, its collection includes over 5 000 unique pieces of art. Here, you can see famous paintings of Shishkin and Aivazovsky. Interesting temporary museums are often organized in the museum.

Another interesting historic site is the Museum called “Stalin Dacha. In Sochi, there was one of the main residences of Joseph Stalin. The historic building has been survived in its original form to this day. The house is not distinguished by a luxurious exterior. Its interior also lacks luxury. Today, the museum houses the interesting collection of historic exhibits and Stalin’s personal items.