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Lenin Mosaic
How about this sparkling, red, 8m-high head shot of Ilyich as a backdrop for your holiday photos? This beauty was unveiled in 1980 to mark the 110th…
Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images
Sochi
Gateway to the optimistically named ‘Russian Riviera’, Sochi is a Black Sea resort with a lively boardwalk and glorious sunsets. In summer, coastline nightclubs pump out booming baselines from dusk till dawn. Away from the embankment, magnolia- and cypress-filled parks provide a fine setting for strolling. And just outside of town, the Agura Valley offers easily accessible hiking amid waterfalls and sublime views.
While the sea is warm and the climate subtropical (among Russia’s warmest destinations in winter), Sochi's beaches are disappointingly rocky and grey. You might find (imported) finer white sand at some private beaches in the summer months. In any case, the peak beach-going season (May to September) sees substantially higher prices.
In recent years, Sochi has become most famous as the host city for the 2014 Winter Olympics (even though the events were actually held at the neighbouring resorts of Adler and Krasnaya Polyana).
Explore Sochi
- LLenin Mosaic
How about this sparkling, red, 8m-high head shot of Ilyich as a backdrop for your holiday photos? This beauty was unveiled in 1980 to mark the 110th…
- AArboretum
On the southeastern edge of town, Sochi’s lovely arboretum is lush with more than 1500 species of trees and shrubs, including numerous species of palm. It…
- PPark Rivera
Park Rivera is a small but lively greenscape that's criss-crossed with walking paths and dotted with games and kiddie rides. It's a pleasant place for a…
- MMuseum of Sochi History
Here's a smallish museum that delves into Sochi’s archaeological history, its maritime roots, its role in WWII and other aspects of its social history…
- AArt Museum
In the middle of a leafy park, the Art Museum resides in a classical building that’s a work of art in itself. The permanent collection includes age-old…
- MMemorial to Victims of Political Repression
This modest memorial lists the dozens of Sochi residents who perished in Stalin-era purges.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Sochi.
See
Lenin Mosaic
How about this sparkling, red, 8m-high head shot of Ilyich as a backdrop for your holiday photos? This beauty was unveiled in 1980 to mark the 110th…
See
Arboretum
On the southeastern edge of town, Sochi’s lovely arboretum is lush with more than 1500 species of trees and shrubs, including numerous species of palm. It…
See
Park Rivera
Park Rivera is a small but lively greenscape that's criss-crossed with walking paths and dotted with games and kiddie rides. It's a pleasant place for a…
See
Museum of Sochi History
Here's a smallish museum that delves into Sochi’s archaeological history, its maritime roots, its role in WWII and other aspects of its social history…
See
Art Museum
In the middle of a leafy park, the Art Museum resides in a classical building that’s a work of art in itself. The permanent collection includes age-old…
See
Memorial to Victims of Political Repression
This modest memorial lists the dozens of Sochi residents who perished in Stalin-era purges.
Guidebooks
Learn more about Sochi
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