The resort city is comparable to a treasure trove of sights. What to see in Sochi in 2 days on your own? It is better not to try to “embrace the immensity”, but to make a list of your interests, hobbies and dwell on the most important points.
First day
Experienced travelers are advised to start exploring the city's attractions from Sochi parks. They are located between the main streets, along the sea coast. Popular entertainment centers, famous museums, trendy cafes, restaurants are within walking distance from the park areas, so the study of local monuments can be perfectly combined with the delights of gastronomic tourism.
Park “Riviera
The entertainment complex is open daily. Entrance to it is free, the cost of visiting attractions starts from 30 rubles and more. The park is one of the visiting cards of the resort city. The most popular place for a selfie in it: a sculptural composition with a clock. It is created in the shape of a shell with a golden pearl. On the territory of the Riviera you can see a huge number of rare plants. Another popular selfie point in the park is the rose garden of 3,000 roses.
In the Riviera, on the Glade of Friendship, magnolias planted by Soviet cosmonauts and American astronauts grow. The park attracts attention not only with numerous attractions and unique landscape. On its territory there are the Equestrian and Green theatres, a dolphinarium, an oceanarium, a zoo, a penguinarium, two museums dedicated to the technical and scientific achievements of mankind.
There are cafes in the park that serve dishes from organic products, souvenir shops with products made from eco-materials.
This place is called a corner of Miami on the map of Russia. The Black Sea and Atlantic cities have in common a special atmosphere of carelessness, a holiday. From an ordinary central street with sidewalks and a roadway, Navaginskaya has been turned into a pedestrian zone.
Parking is prohibited here, but tropical plants are planted. They, combined with modern buildings, 40-year-old palm trees (the trees appeared before the reconstruction) create the illusion of immersion in the US space, because smiling people are visible everywhere. In essence, the street, located between the railway station and the seaport, plays the role of a recreation area and a shopping place.
On Navaginskaya, you can spend hours admiring the flowerbeds with exquisite flowers, take selfies with the figures of fairy-tale characters. In its boutiques, goods of world brands are presented, and tastings of new dishes do not stop in restaurants. There is also a sports museum of glory, a musical fountain. Another attraction of the street: the figure of the Ear. Many believe that if you make a wish next to her, it will definitely come true.
Sea port
A visit to the Sochi seaport leaves an unforgettable impression at any time of the year. It is located in the heart of the resort town. The history of the port dates back to the 30s of the last century. It was at this time, on the personal orders of I.V. Stalin built a 200-meter pier.
After the war, the building of the maritime station in the style of the Stalinist Empire was erected nearby. Today it is recognized as an architectural monument and a hallmark of the city. The tower is decorated with statues that can compete with the masterpieces of the Renaissance masters in terms of workmanship.
Nowadays, the building houses: an exhibition complex, a shopping center, a restaurant. Along with it, the main sights of the port are considered: the Navigation fountain located in a cozy square, a sculptural group of characters from the Soviet comedy Diamond Hand (many of its scenes were filmed in Sochi), figurines of children with a fish.
The port is famous for its restaurants. It is recognized as one of the best places for photo shoots. In the port, you can rent a yacht for a boat trip by booking it on the spot or in advance through websites on the Internet.
Embankment
The central seaside embankment is considered one of the most romantic places in the city. In the evenings, it shines with lights, lovers make dates here. The length of the central embankment: 2 kilometers. The street is adored by hikers and gourmets. Literally every cafe and restaurant on the embankment serves unusual dishes of European, Asian, Caucasian cuisine. Entertainment facilities, children's play areas, souvenir shops, viewing platforms give the street a special flavor.
Experienced travelers are advised to make sure to take a selfie in the warm season against the backdrop of its luxurious rose garden with rare varieties of flowers. A well-known landmark of the embankment is the Winter Theatre, whose building can safely be called an architectural masterpiece. The gigantic Mayak water park located right there enjoys constant popularity among tourists. In winter, it is closed, so the atmosphere of the street becomes more calm, acquires a special peace.
Garden of Russian-Japanese Friendship
The attraction has another name: “Japanese Garden”. A man-made landscape monument next to Kurortny Avenue allows you to feel the atmosphere of the Land of the Rising Sun without going on a trip. Rare species of trees (including dwarf ones), shrubs, and flowers brought to Russia from Japan grow on the territory of the park-garden. Entry to the park is free for everyone.
The bridge, bronze sculptures of animals and mythical creatures, buildings, a rock garden were created in a mini-park according to the canons of the oriental style. Its layout reflects the Japanese philosophy of the unity of nature and man, the harmonious world order and the cycle of life. The luxurious park occupies a small area, but there is no feeling of compressed space in it. The garden is magnificent at any time of the year. It looks especially elegant at sunrise and at night under the light of Japanese lanterns.
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael
The majestic building of the temple is a unique architectural monument with a difficult unpredictable fate. It was built in memory of the end of the Caucasian War in the 19th century. Representatives of the Romanov, Mamontov, Sumarokov dynasties, people from different classes, made their contribution to the collection of funds for the construction of the cathedral. The author of the temple project: the great architect Alexander Kaminsky. His works are unique, eclectic and harmonious at the same time.
Kaminsky masterfully combined various architectural styles, landscape design techniques, and the result was a church quarter. After the revolution, desolation reigned on its territory, the local authorities gave the temple for storage, and then returned it to believers in a dilapidated state. Later, the state invested in the restoration of the monument adjacent to the park.
The restorers managed to restore the unique temple paintings and interior elements. Near the cathedral there is another interesting attraction: the baptismal church, also built according to the project of Kaminsky.
Arboretum
The age of the park known far beyond the borders of Russia is 130 years. It is open daily. The work schedule of the landscape complex in the Khostinsky district and the cable car passing on its territory varies, so it is better to check it in advance on the official website of the arboretum. The park will be of interest primarily to fans of unhurried walking.
Its atmosphere fascinates, trees, shrubs, flowers brought from all over the world enchant with their exotic appearance and aroma. An important point: moving around in the arboretum on skateboards, rollerblades, bicycles, scooters is strictly prohibited.
The arboretum is reminiscent of European royal palace parks. Its pavilions, sculptures, fountains, viewing platforms are created in Moorish, classical, neoclassical and other styles. Here you can plunge into the life and life of the inhabitants of the pre-revolutionary villa, which was visited at various times by famous Russian poets, musicians, and artists.
The park occupies 50 hectares, it is divided into 2 main parts and many areas dedicated to collections of exotic plants. In the arboretum there is a giant aquarium with the inhabitants of the Red Sea.
Olympic Park
The entertainment sports complex in the Adler district impresses with its scale. If you move on foot, you will not be able to see its main sights in a day. The best option for traveling: rent a bike or an electric car. Entrance to the park area is free, most sports areas are open daily from 08.00 to 24.00.
The complex can be compared to a city within a city. The main part of its buildings are sports facilities, including ice rinks, palaces. The park has its own beach, autodrome, several museums. The complex is surrounded by hotels where fans of an active lifestyle have a rest.
The heart of the park, Olympic Square, is compared by travelers to the anthem of architecture in honor of sports. Its main attractions are the Olympic cauldron and singing fountains that look fantastic in the dark.
Sochi Park
A huge entertainment complex is located next to the Olympic Park. Its visit can be compared to a magical journey to Wonderland, where every day is filled with holidays, amazing adventures, meetings with the characters of your favorite fairy tales. To enter the park, you need to purchase a single entrance ticket.
Its price includes visiting all attractions (including extreme ones), master classes, a dolphinarium, playgrounds, colorful show programs. An important advantage of the entertainment complex: it is aimed at adults and children, it is great for individual, family, group recreation.
The park is divided into zones, among which there is the Bear Country, the Land of the Bogatyrs, the Sea Kingdom, the Enchanted Forest, the Ecological Village. In the center of the complex rises the famous Bogatyr Hotel. Even those who do not plan to stay in it are happy to come to look at the building, reminiscent of a majestic castle.
Maybe a few decades later it will be recognized as an architectural masterpiece, because unique technologies and non-standard design solutions were used to build the hotel. Another visiting card of the park: a Ferris wheel 60 meters high. It operates all year round.
Second day
The first day of an independent trip around Sochi resembles a mosaic for many travelers. The desire to have time to see everything is quite understandable, but it is better to devote the second day to one or two famous objects. This approach to exploring the city and its environs will allow you to get the most impressions and not miss interesting sights along the route.
skypark
The entertainment complex in the Akhtyrsky Gorge is an earthly paradise for extreme sportsmen. The longest suspension pedestrian bridge in Russia is located here. Every visitor to the park gets a chance to make their dream come true: to see the earth from a bird's eye view. For its implementation, there are a variety of attractions: from swings to super-fast trolley.
Skypark for recreation is chosen not only by those who like to tickle their nerves, to test stress resistance during a free fall. The entertainment complex attracts attention with a special atmosphere where adults and young adventurers feel comfortable. It is divided into zones taking into account the age characteristics of visitors. The structure of the park includes a climbing wall. A panoramic restaurant is open all year round in Skypark, where you can always try interesting dishes from the chef.
Krasnaya Polyana
The easiest way to get from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana is by bus (the stop is located next to the ski lift). The journey by train takes less time, but you need to add half an hour of walking route to the cable car. Nowadays, Krasnaya Polyana has been turned into a gigantic sports and entertainment complex.
It is hard to believe that earlier the village was repeatedly left, fleeing from hostilities, people. Today, this place is like a magnet for winter sports fans. However, even in the warm season, you can find a lot of entertainment here. Famous sights of Krasnaya Polyana: dolmens, the royal house, the church of St. Kharlampy. The natural monuments of this area are bizarre and fantastic.
The moving glacier has made such changes to the landscape that many landscapes seem alien. To get a general idea of this amazing place, it makes sense to include the following objects in the route: the Polikar and Bear waterfalls, the Relic Forest, a panoramic platform overlooking the Caucasus Range. Such a path will not be burdensome even for those who are not involved in sports and tourism.
Rosa Khutor
The unique ski complex in the Adler region is open all year round. Today there is no analogue to this eco-resort in the world. Its infrastructure is aimed not only at serving athletes, fans of a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a huge number of sports facilities in the mountains, the complex has its own beach sea beach.
The latter is ideal for families with children in the hot season, because there are water parks and numerous playgrounds on its territory. The complex has 3 amusement parks with attractions for extreme sportsmen, artificial reservoirs, areas for wellness procedures, and an ethnic village.
Here are the world-famous Olympic facilities, constantly passing competitions. Rosa Khutor is popular with world-famous sports stars. It is quite natural that many Russians visit the resort hoping to meet their sports idols, to see the performances of professionals in the Ice Palace or on the ski slopes.
Mount Akhun
The unique monument of nature is adored by romantics and fans of an active lifestyle. On its territory there are mysterious caves. The mountain itself consists of several hills. It is unrealistic to go through the routes located on it in a day, therefore, for a start, it is better to climb the most important peak along the hiking trail and enjoy the cuisine of the Kavkazsky Aul restaurant.
There are unique architectural monuments on the mountain: a Romanesque tower (built in the 30s of the last century) and the remains of a medieval Christian church. The area where the church is located is considered a place of power. According to Sochi residents, the mountain is literally inhabited by signs. You can not believe in otherworldly forces, but ghostly figures constantly appear on the photos and videos of tourists.
The mystical atmosphere is enhanced by the dilapidated buildings of a chic Soviet restaurant and a state dacha. A lot of tragic stories are connected with Mount Akhun, but its nature has not become less alluring and beautiful because of this.
How to get from the airport to the city center
Between the airport and the railway station, located in the center of the resort, there is a high-speed electric train 5-6 times a day. This is the most budgetary solution to the problem. The station is located in the central part of the city, where at every step there are hotels, hotels, natural and architectural monuments.
Buses No. 105 and No. 124 run between the station and the center. Traveling by public transport is also considered a budget solution. Payment for the services of a fixed-route taxi No. 105-K will cost a little more. The main disadvantage of such options is that there are no night routes. The advantage of a private taxi: operates around the clock. But the cost of the trip may be too high.
What to do if public transport is not working at the time of your arrival and there is no desire to overpay for a taxi. In this situation, there is a real way out: ordering a transfer on the websites of official organizations that specialize in just such services. Each of them has its own system of discounts, so a new arrival in Sochi and transfer services another time will cost you less.