Sochi is a whole world, and even a full vacation is not enough to see all its sights. But Russians are increasingly able to afford only a short vacation, which falls, for example, on New Year's or May holidays. So, if you are on the Black Sea coast for a short time, what to see in Sochi in 3 days on your own? We offer an interesting route.
First day
On the first day, it is best to get a general idea of this “summer capital” of Russia.
Olympic Park
New, and, in a sense, the main object of entertainment has become the Olympic Park. It is not difficult to get to it, both from Sochi itself and from the coastal villages that belong to it. The most convenient form of transport is the train, the journey takes a little less than an hour.
You can also use buses No. 57, 125, 124 C, excursion bus “Matryoshka”. In addition, excursions to the Olympic Park are offered at every turn. Tourists will not only be taken and brought, but they will also tell a lot of interesting facts. The park is open from 8 am to 10 pm, it is better to buy tickets through the park's own website, where they are sold at a discount.
The object itself is huge, occupies approximately 200 hectares, so it can take a whole day to see it. Everything here is brand new, brand new, as the construction was completed just before the opening of the 2014 Winter Olympics. To visit all parts of the park and not get tired, you can rent bicycles at one of the rental points. Magnificent palaces: “Big”, “Fisht”, “Puck”, “Ice Cube”, “Iceberg” and others as part of excursions can only be viewed from the outside.
But they constantly host various shows, competitions, mass skating, for which tickets can be purchased. The Central Square is very popular, the one where medals were awarded to the Olympians. Here you will see the Wall of Glory and a beautiful musical fountain, as well as the symbols of the main sports festival – the Olympic rings.
The doors of museums are open in the Olympic Park. You can visit the Mechanical Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, the Electrical Museum of Nikola Tesla, experience nostalgic feelings in the Museum of the USSR, admire the cars in the Automuseum. In the evenings, the hour-long Show of Singing Fountains is the most popular among tourists.
There are 264 of them in total, they are illuminated, music sounds, both classical and modern. Few Russians managed to get to the Olympics. But now everyone who comes to rest in Sochi or its environs can see this beautiful corner with their own eyes.
Theme park “Sochi Park”
Not only young tourists, but also their parents will like it here: the attractions that are concentrated here are truly luxurious. The combination of modern technology with Russian fairy tales and legends not only entertains, but also awakens the imagination, teaches history.
At the very beginning, guests get to the “Avenue of Lights”, as if to an old fair, then they find themselves in the “Land of Science and Fiction”. And they are waiting for the “Firebird”, “Enchanted Forest”, “ECO-village”. Along the way, you will meet with your favorite heroes: goblin, witches, mermaids, good fellows and red maidens.
There are many places in the park where you can eat and just sit and relax. Attractions work even in winter, but only from Friday to Sunday, and starting from the end of March – every day.
Arboretum
This beautiful park was created by S.N. Khudekov dedicated to his wife Nadezhda. Indeed, such a gift is better than any jewelry. It happened at the end of the 19th century. Khudekov bought about 50 acres of land on the slope of Bald Mountain. A writer and publisher of one of the newspapers in St. Petersburg, in his heart Khudekov most of all loved nature, unusual exotic plants.
On his new estate, he built a villa named after his wife, and around it laid gardens and a park. The first green inhabitants were brought from the Crimea and the Caucasus, then the plants began to arrive from Germany. Under Khudekov, about 400 types of vegetation were planted here – trees, shrubs, perennial flowers. The park was like those that are so popular in France and Italy. In addition to unusual plants, there were sculptures, decorative vases and ponds.
After the revolution, the park was nationalized and transferred to a research station in the mid-1940s. And in the 70s, a cable car appeared here. By the way, today not everyone uses it – you can climb to the very top on foot: the roads are quite gentle.
About 1500 species of plants grow in the park, and various types of palm trees make the biggest impression on tourists. The park is divided into “upper” and “lower”, in the latter you can see a large aquarium. Those fish that live here are naturally found in the Red Sea.
“Sochi Circuit”
This race track is located in the Adler region. In 2010, it was decided to organize a Formula 1 Grand Prix in our country. The design and construction of the corresponding route has begun. The work was headed by the German architect Hermann Tilke.
The first racing festival took place here a year later. And in September 2014, the stage of the Russian circuit racing series was held. In October, the first race of the Formula 1 Grand Prix started. Today, everyone can see the track that runs through the territory of the Olympic Park.
national park
This park, which covers an area of 200 hectares, has a river that is good for rafting, various types of plants, and exotic animals. Therefore, both adult tourists and children like to visit it.
The park was founded in 1983, with several goals being pursued at once: to preserve, and in some cases restore natural objects, to preserve the unique flora and fauna of this region, and, of course, to engage in environmental education.
Mysterious caves, picturesque waterfalls, deep canyons, extraordinary forests – beech, oak, chestnut – all this you will find in the national park. And the beautiful thick moss gives the opening landscapes a fabulous flavor.
Circus
The circus is located in the Khostinsky district, not far from the arboretum. It was founded in 1971, and Yuri Nikulin took part in this event. The spacious, well-equipped circus can accommodate 2,000 spectators, but even here it happens that there are not enough places.
After all, the programs are constantly changing, the most eminent circus and pop artists come here, and each performance is very popular. And here you can take pictures with animals, ride horses and ponies, buy souvenirs.
Skypark adventure park
The world-famous extreme AJ Hackett, the inventor of the bungee, opened a branch of his amusement park in Sochi. Here you can walk along a 500 m long pedestrian bridge, stretching over the Mzymta River, at an altitude exceeding 200 m.
Jump from the bungee, ride the Freaky Swing, try your hand at the rope park, overcome the rocky route, do freestyle. You will not only feel like a daredevil, but you will also be able to show the recording of your exploits to your friends: here everything is recorded on a video camera.
And, of course, although all these jumps and tricks look scary from the outside, everything is thought out for the safety of guests, and experienced instructors will save you from an accident. The park is located in the Adler district.
Park of Culture and Leisure “Riviera”
This park is loved by both residents and visitors of the city. It occupies an area of about 15 hectares, located on the banks of the river, in the center of the city. Almost 250 species of trees and shrubs grow here, there is also an area where attractions are located.
The fair sex is delighted with the rosary, young people gather in the Glade of Friendship, elderly people walk along the sycamore alley with pleasure. For children, special holidays are organized here, in the dolphinarium you can watch the performances of these smartest marine animals, in the oceanarium you can admire rare fish.
And famous artists constantly perform in the Green Theater. Of course, on the first day you will not have time to visit all these objects. But the main thing is to know what is there. Then you can give priority to one or another place, depending on your preferences.
Second day
On the second day, we can recommend seeing the “second face” of Sochi – its ski resorts located within Krasnaya Polyana. This is Rosa Khutor and Gorki Gorod.
Rosa Khutor
The place got its name after the hardworking forester Adul Roza, who moved here from Estonia at the end of the 19th century and founded a farm here. The most attractive resort during the “high season” – from December to May, when skiers come here.
At their service – 77 km of slopes of varying difficulty – from “green” to “black” and 7 ski lifts. In summer, you can rent bicycles, or take a walk along the hiking trails, admiring the beauties of the Caucasus Range. There is a water park, a rope park, there is an opportunity to play sports – volleyball, badminton, ice skating, etc.
Getting here is easy: by car, bus, train (the high-speed train “Lastochka” runs here). The distance from Sochi is about 70 km, that is, the road will not take even an hour. The Rosa Khutor resort is at the very beginning of its development: mass construction here began in 2013, but even today it is unusually beautiful and is not inferior to European resorts in terms of service level.
Whether you have come for the purpose of skiing or just for a walk, the first thing to do is to go to the Town Hall, get information brochures, ask questions. There you will be prompted which objects are best to see in the first place, they will introduce you to their work schedules and prices.
In general, the resort is divided into 4 zones:
The valley represents the lower station. It is suitable for beginners in the sport and for those who do not plan to ski. There are most of all entertainment venues, cozy cafes, shops. The plateau is higher.
Here is a suitable place to go skiing under the guidance of an instructor, rent equipment. The stadium is located even higher. There are already difficult ski slopes here, but in addition to this, you can ride horses, do yoga, walk along the picturesque slopes, watching the flight of eagles – there are a lot of them. A children's town is open for small tourists.
Peak. A place for ski and freeride professionals. Difficult trails, mesmerizing views and an elegant restaurant are what you will find here. If we talk about lifts, then the most unusual and impressive is Olympia.
Rising in gondolas over the gorges, you can take great pictures. In addition to playing sports, you can see the Town Hall, visit the cultural center “My Russia”, where copies of typical architectural structures from different regions of our country are presented in a reduced form.
Thrill-seekers will try their hand at Extreme Park. The nature around is beautiful too. You can leisurely walk along the bridges thrown over the Mzymta River, along with the guides, visit the dolmens, whose history goes back thousands of years. In the ancient fortress of Achipse, a tower has been preserved, as well as a burial ground.
The house-museum of the Estonian writer Anton Tammsaare is waiting for guests, and the Panda Park rope complex will impress both adults and children. One of the most attractive places in the resort is the entertainment center “Galaktika”. There is a water park with 14 pools and 4 water slides.
There is an outdoor pool with heated water, so you can swim and enjoy the views of the mountains, both in winter and in summer. There is an ice arena, a cinema, a bowling alley.
Don't forget to take the glass elevator to the roof. From this place, a beautiful panorama of the mountains opens up, and the singing fountain gives the impression that you are in a fairy tale.
Gorki City
This is another new luxury resort. His original role was as a “media village” during the Olympics. That is, media representatives from around the world lived here, and everything was thought out for their convenience. Today, both skiers and ordinary tourists come here.
One of the authors of the architectural project was the Frenchman Pierre Diener, who became famous for the construction of facilities in Courchevel. For those who are good at skiing, this is where the world's only ski jump complex “Russian Hills” is located. Adrenaline just rolls over.
The resort is divided into “Upper City” and “Lower City”. They are connected by both a highway and a cable car. In the “Lower City” there is a large shopping and entertainment center and the entire infrastructure: cafes and restaurants, shops, high-class hotels.
At the top, you will also find chic hotels and spas, as well as ski slopes. Here lovers of photography will feel like in paradise: the views of the mountains are simply divine.
Riders love to come here too. For them there are 29 tracks of all categories of difficulty. Moreover, you can devote the whole day to skiing without returning to the hotel to eat and relax. On the transfer steps of the cable car there are observation platforms, recreation areas, and cafes.
The peculiarity of this particular resort is that you can ride here even at night: the slopes are illuminated, and skiers feel safe. Naturally, if you come here for 1 day, then you will not have equipment with you. But everything you need can be rented. And for those who have never skied, an experienced instructor will help you get used to the basics of skiing.
Third day – Agur waterfalls
Sochi is not only a huge resort city and its environs, but also a unique nature. You can feel its spirit by going on a visit to Mount Akhun. In fact, it is a whole mountain range, which includes several peaks.
And it is named after the god of cattle breeders, who was revered by the locals. People have lived in this blessed land since time immemorial. Initially, caves served as their habitat. There are about 2 dozen of them here, the area of the largest one is about 600 sq.m.
If you are interested in speleology, such caves will seem like a real gift of fate to you. Later, 2 Christian churches were built in the same places, which have not survived to this day. And in the 20th century the area began to be actively inhabited.
In the 1930s, a lookout “White Tower” appeared on Mount Big Akhun. Architect S.I. Vorobyov designed it very successfully – after the tower was filmed more than once in television and feature films, it turned out to be so picturesque.
The height of the tower is just over 30 m. The view from here is such that all eminent guests were brought here before to admire the surroundings. For a short time, a restaurant operated in the tower.
Now it has been replaced by a tasting room, where you will be offered such tinctures that you will not try anywhere else: on honey and fruits according to old recipes. Stuffed animals of local animals are also exhibited here. Relatively recently, the tower was restored, and now you can get here both independently and as part of an excursion.
In the vicinity of the tower, you can buy souvenirs, and the kids will be happy to play on the playground. In good weather, tourists are offered to climb up on the Ferris Wheel, the whole of Sochi will be visible from here at a glance.
On the small Akhun there is another highlight – “Vysotsky's Glade”. They say that the famous bard visited here during his honeymoon trip with Marina Vladi. Here you can see a sculpture of Vysotsky, and if you're lucky, you can even listen to bards who often gather here for various events. In the vicinity of Greater Sochi, you can count a little less than 100 waterfalls. Among them are Agursky.
The lower waterfall is located a few hundred meters from the entrance to the reserve. The road to it leads along a wooden bridge and further through the forest. You will breathe in plenty of cool and fresh forest air.
The jet of the waterfall falls off the blue bowl, which is called the “Devil's Font”. There is also a cave “Devil's Hole”. To get to the next, Middle waterfall, you need to overcome several kilometers. The hiking trail runs along the river.
Then you have to overcome another bridge, but the beautiful large waterfall that opens up to you is worth the effort. Its maximum height is 18 m. A stream of water falls into a mountain lake. If you wish, you can comfortably relax next to the waterfall. There are benches and tables here.
If you have strength left, go to the third waterfall. It is also very picturesque, and a path has been laid to it. Height – 23 m. But local residents warn that people with good physical fitness, and possibly with special climbing equipment, should decide on such a road.
In this area there is another attraction – Eagle Rocks. Due to the limestone that makes them up, they are white in color. The forest growing at a distance is also beautiful – it is made up of trees whose age is estimated for centuries. There are also caves here.
But the attention of tourists is more attracted by the sculpture of Prometheus. As you remember, this is the hero of Greek myths, who gave fire to people. For which he was punished by the gods: he was chained to a rock, and a huge eagle flew every day to peck his liver.
The sculpture was installed here in 1998. In the Caucasus, the legend got its continuation. According to her, Prometheus fell in love with the mountain woman Agura, who brought water and food to the hero. As punishment, the local god Ahyn turned the beauty into a river.
It is not difficult to come to these parts. The easiest way is as part of an excursion. Just remember that some guides will not take you further than the Lower Falls. You can also get here by bus, order an individual tour, or just take a taxi.
As for the length of the walk, you will have to overcome about 8 km. Another tip: bring raincoats with you in case of inclement weather: in the mountains, clouds fly in quickly. And also pick up suitable clothes and shoes so that you don't mind getting them dirty.
Shoes should be such that you do not slip in them on mountain paths. Thus, even in a short time you can see a lot. The main thing is to plan the time correctly. And if you came here in the warm season, carve it out for plenty of swimming in the sea.