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Sochi City, Russia
Sochi's got it all - stunning beaches, lush forests, and a rich cultural heritage that's just begging to be explored. Whether you're into hiking, skiing, or just chillin' on the beach, there's something for every kind of traveler in this beautiful Russian city. From the scenic Black Sea coast to the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains, Sochi's diverse landscapes are a nature lover's dream come true.
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Sochi Disappointment: A City That Fails to Impress
summarizeEditor's Summary
Sochi, a popular resort town in Russia, has a lot to offer, but it's not without its flaws. The city's beautiful architecture and natural scenery are a sight to behold, but the heat and humidity can be overwhelming. The beaches, while clean and modern, are often crowded and lack the tranquility we were looking for. We also found the city's layout to be exhausting, with steep hills and lack of sidewalks in some areas. On the other hand, the city's market is a great place to find souvenirs and try local food, and the Rivera Park is a kid's paradise. Overall, Sochi is a decent city, but it's not for everyone. If you're looking for a beach destination, you might want to consider other options. Anapa, for example, is a beach paradise with endless stretches of coastline, and it's a lot more affordable than Sochi.
settingsSpecifications
KararKötü
Pazar7/10
Konumu4/10
Müzeler5/10
Ulaşım4/10
Hava Durumu1/10
Tarihi Binalar8/10
Kırsal Alanlar3/10
Ses ve Gürültü2/10
Tiyatro ve Sinema5/10
Eğlence Alanları4/10
Belediye Hizmetleri3/10
Doğal Güzellikler9/10
Yürüyüş Yolları2/10
Kafeler ve Restoranlar6/10
Last summer, my friends and I decided to take a trip to Sochi. We'd never been to this popular resort town before, and we were curious to see what all the fuss was about. Many people rave about Sochi, but it's definitely a pricey place to visit.
It's a city that attracts people from all over, and some even end up moving there. I guess you could say it's got a similar vibe to Moscow, but with a more relaxed atmosphere.
We decided to visit Sochi in August, which is peak tourist season. I know it's not the cheapest time to go, but we didn't have a choice. We took the train from Nizhny Novgorod, which was actually really convenient - no transfers and we ended up right at the station. The journey took a couple of days, but I love trains, so it wasn't a problem. We even ordered food from the dining car a few times.
City of Sochi (Russia)
When we arrived, it was early morning and already scorching hot outside. As soon as I stepped off the train, I knew I was in for a bit of a culture shock.
City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia)
Well, I was lucky to agree with the owner of the place that I could move in right away, rather than waiting two days. We took a taxi to get to the apartments.
Accommodation
We stayed in the Mamin area. It's right in the heart of Sochi. Unfortunately, I made a bit of a mistake with the accommodation. I initially wanted a hotel, but we ended up in apartments instead. Although they were listed as different things on various websites - sometimes a hotel, sometimes a hotel-apartment, and so on.
I was a bit confused until the last minute about what it actually was - just a flat with a balcony. It was a big, two-bedroom place with everything you'd need for a stay, but...no cleaning service, no trash removal, no fresh linens. That's a major minus for me in a flat. Last year, when we stayed at a hotel in Anapa, I loved that you'd leave the room in the morning and come back to find it spotless - floors cleaned, trash taken out, fresh sheets.
Here, though, it's all on us. There is a washing machine, a vacuum, and other appliances. There's also a kitchen, dishes, two air conditioners, an iron, and an ironing board.
City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia)
The bathroom was spacious and had everything we needed.
Sochi, Russia
We had a small area around the room and a terrace.
Sochi, Russia
There was a weird tree growing right in front of the entrance.
Sochi, Russia
Our room or apartment was located on an improvised second floor. The first floor had another room. Since the building was built on a hill, we had a second floor on one side and, essentially, a first floor on the other. There was also a summer kitchen and a barbecue area that we could use. The owner would occasionally show up at the house on the property, which was really nice of him.
Our room cost us 6,000 rubles per day, which was a discount from the listed price on the website.
Sochi, Russia
I thought everything was going to be great, but it wasn't. There were plenty of downsides. First of all, I totally misjudged the balcony. I thought we'd be using it a lot: having breakfast there, having a juice or coffee. But in reality, it didn't work out that way at all. From 7 am on, the balcony and the terrace were in full sun and it was already scorching hot. I'd wake up, open the balcony door, step out, burn my hand on the scorching railing, sweat all over, and then head back to the room to cool off under the air conditioner.
Naturally, having breakfast on the balcony was out of the question. And so was sunbathing in the mornings due to the intense heat. But after lunch, the sun would have moved to the other side, so sunbathing wasn't an option then either. We ended up eating in the café instead. Having dinner on the street wasn't that comfortable either, as the streetlights only came on when someone moved.
Another significant downside of this room was that there was a restaurant called Zamok Dvin right below us in the valley. We couldn't see it from our room, but our little balcony had a great view of the greenery. It seemed like it should be quiet and peaceful. But nope. From 6 pm onwards, the restaurant would start blasting loud and live music. It was so loud that even with the windows closed, it was still unbearable. And restaurants in the summer down south tend to stay open late.
At best, the music would stop at midnight, but often it would go on till 2 am. I'm pretty sure I've developed a strong dislike for Yuri Shatunov's 'Give Flowers to Women' song after that.
And finally, the entrance to our apartments was through a gate located under a steep hill. And then there was this massive staircase up to our place. You wouldn't want to go to the shop all that often.
I was expecting to be able to walk to the city center and the beach, but it's not that easy. You can't really walk to the city center, you need to take a taxi or bus. But the beach is within walking distance, and we went a few times.
FOOD
Actually, I didn't find the food to be super expensive in Sochi. I mean, if you eat at restaurants on the main streets, it's going to be pricey, but if you grab food at cafes or canteens, it's pretty reasonable.
We sometimes cooked breakfast ourselves, scrambled eggs, and bought frozen pancakes at the big Magnit store nearby. When we didn't feel like cooking, or wanted something different, we'd head to the canteens.
There are plenty of them with decent prices.
City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia)
We also ate lunch at canteens or cafes, because we preferred simple home-style food.
Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia
We also enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Kukuruzza Hotel on the beach, which cost 500 rubles. You could easily fill up on the freshest fruits, drinks, and snacks. There was always a huge selection to choose from.
Of course, you can always head to Magnit or 5 minutes to buy groceries for a meal if you want to save on food costs.
BEACHES
I'm not a big fan of lounging on the beach from morning till night. Firstly, I'm not a fan of excessive sun exposure due to my freckles. Secondly, I prefer swimming, not just wading in the water. The only problem is that the sea needs to be calm and wave-free, which isn't always the case.
We visited a few beaches. The closest one to us was Stavropolye. Its only advantage is that it's not too crowded. Otherwise, it's quite dull with large pebbles that get in the way when you wade into the water, making it easy to slip and fall.
A bit further along the coastline were the beaches of Rusalka and Cuba. They're more developed and busier.
There's pebbles and large rocks everywhere. The water is relatively clean and warm.
The city of Sochi, Russia
The city of Sochi, Russia The city of Sochi, Russia
Sochi City (Russia)Sochi City (Russia)Sochi City (Russia)Sochi City (Russia)Sochi City (Russia)Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
If you're planning to stay on the beach for a while, it's worth considering buying a beach towel - lying on the rocks isn't very comfortable, and you might end up with some nasty bruises.
Beach activities are pretty standard. There are plenty of vendors offering to take you on a banana boat ride or a banana-shaped inflatable raft.
Sochi City (Russia)
I've been to the Rivera Beach a few times. It's the most popular and star-studded beach, but it didn't really impress me. There's construction going on nearby, and part of it was being renovated last summer. It's not as gloomy as it is in Stavropol, but it's not exactly a tropical paradise either. There are plenty of cafes, play areas for kids, and exercise equipment.
Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
There are plenty of other beaches to explore. For instance, the waterfront has some pretty modern beaches with gazebos. Every single one has showers, toilets, changing rooms, snack stands, and even guided tours.
However, I have to say that each of these beaches has a few major drawbacks for me: the crowds of people hovering around you, thinking that's okay, and not respecting designated smoking areas, plus the jetties that divide the beaches into tiny little sections and look pretty ugly.
Sochi (Russia) Sochi (Russia)
Sochi (Russia)
In Anapa, it's a whole different story. The place is a beach paradise with endless stretches of coastline. By the way, I noticed that the seagulls in Sochi seem to be replaced by pigeons on the beaches.
Sochi (Russia)
WHAT TO SEE
I'm convinced that in just a few days, we managed to hit all the major spots in Sochi's city center. We took a stroll down Navaginskaya Street, which is basically Sochi's version of Arbat. It's lined with fancy shops, cafes, and a few museums. You'll also find some more affordable options, like the Patisson cafe we tried, but unfortunately, it was a letdown - the food wasn't great.
Walking along the entire street will take you straight to the port, which is another local hotspot. It's not far from the statues of heroes from famous Soviet films.
Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia
The port is lovely, but it's really only for people who enjoy boats and sea cruises. We didn't end up taking a ride, as we weren't in the mood for a water taxi, and a private tour would've been way too pricey. The hawkers were pretty aggressive, trying to drag us onto their boats.
City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia)
I stumbled upon this quirky cafe The Magic Shop on the waterfront where we grabbed a cup of coffee.
I've gotta say, Sochi is a stunningly beautiful city - it's spotless and well-maintained. The exotic plants, palm trees, and flowerbeds are all so impressive. Sure, most of them are imported, but it still looks amazing.
City of Sochi (Russia)
City of Sochi (Russia)
The city's got some seriously impressive architecture, and the natural scenery is just breathtaking. It's hard to believe that this place used to be a malaria-infested swamp nobody wanted to live in. If it weren't for the discovery of these sulfur springs, Sochi might not be the resort town it is today.
City of Sochi (Russia)
We didn't just stick to the beach, though - we also checked out a few museums. One of them was the History Museum of Sochi, the City-Resort.
Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia)
I also visited the Ostrovsky Museum, but I wouldn't recommend it. It was open during our visit, but it was in a state of disrepair. There wasn't much to see, and we were charged for the ticket. In reality, it was just a bunch of furniture thrown into one room, and we were expected to pay to look at it. There was also a room with books.
Sochi City (Russia)
From our excursions, we chose to visit Stalin's Dacha, Agursky Waterfalls, and Matsesta.
Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia
Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
I was really impressed by Stalin's Dacha. It's a super atmospheric place, even with a big crowd and not-so-professional tour guides.
But honestly, Matsesta wasn't that exciting - it's more about learning about the healing springs than actually seeing anything.
Unfortunately, we didn't get to see the Agursky Waterfalls, as they were dry during our visit. We ended up just walking around the rocks. The wooden eagle statue at the Orlynskie Skaly landmark was broken, either from time or tourist vandalism.
We did visit the healing springs, but you have to be careful when swimming there, as there are a lot of health contraindications.
Everyone kept telling us to visit the Red Glade, saying it's a must-see in Sochi. But for some reason, I just didn't feel like going. Maybe another time. Our tour guide, however, tried to rip us off, charging us more than we agreed on and refusing to refund the difference. We didn't make a fuss, not wanting to ruin our vacation vibe.
While exploring the city, we stumbled upon the Russo-Japanese Friendship Garden. It's nice, but a bit neglected.
Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia)
We took the train to Adler.
Sochi City (Russia)
Adler isn't exactly a tourist hotspot - it's all about beach time and sunbathing. Plus, there are planes flying overhead the whole time.
We did stumble upon a cool restaurant, Graça, where we grabbed lunch.
Sochi City (Russia) Sochi City (Russia)
Sochi City (Russia)
Hands down, the main attraction in Sochi is the market.
Sochi, Russia
We spent about two weeks in Sochi, and it didn't take us long to get the hang of things. Within a couple of days, we were navigating the city like pros – we'd memorized the bus schedules and knew exactly where to go and how to get there. By the fifth day, even the locals were telling us where to find the best spots and how to get there when we asked for directions.
Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia
We also visited the famous Rivera Park in Sochi. It's a kid's paradise, but honestly, it got a bit dull for us adults after one walk. We didn't feel the urge to go back.
Sochi, Russia
Sochi, Russia Sochi, Russia
City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia)
We also ended up going to the old cinema, where we watched what might've been the most ridiculous film with TikTok actors, "Not Alone at Home". It was just a way to pass the time while waiting for the rain to stop.
City of Sochi (Russia) City of Sochi (Russia)
WHAT DIDN'T IMPRESS ME ABOUT SOCHI
I'll be honest, I've been to Sochi and I don't share the enthusiasm for this city. Personally, I don't want to live here, and I don't even want to come back a second time. It's all clean, beautiful, and well-organized, but that's about it. There's no vibe and no atmosphere, no warm memories of the city. That's not the case with Anapa, which I fell in love with and miss dearly. But not Sochi. Of course, this is a subjective opinion, but that's how I feel.
City of Sochi (Russia)I really didn't like the tropical climate. Honestly, it's a real struggle to live in a place like that. You're always sweaty, even at the crack of dawn, and it's scorching hot. There's no freshness from the sea. In Anapa, it's a different story – even in the midst of a heatwave, it's comfortable, and I don't recall ever feeling like I was walking around in a perpetual state of dampness. My son and I even went for jogs in the evenings without any issues. In Sochi, I didn't feel like venturing out of my room with an air conditioner before 5 pm.
City of Sochi (Russia)Another thing that didn't impress me was the fact that Sochi is all mountains. No matter where you go, you're always walking uphill. On the one hand, it's exhausting, and the terrain is so steep that you feel like a fly crawling up a wall. On the other hand, it's a great opportunity to lose some weight. I came back weighing 56 kg, while I left Sochi at 58.5 kg.
I'm always thirsty. It's no surprise, really – you're sweating all the time, so you need to replenish fluids.
Sochi, RussiaI have to say, one thing that really bugged me was the constant sound of sirens from the city's service vehicles. To be honest, Sochi feels like a city that's always on high alert - the sirens just wouldn't stop for the two weeks we were there. And to make matters worse, the lack of sidewalks in some areas meant we had to walk along the road, which wasn't exactly the safest option. To be frank, drivers weren't exactly in a hurry to let pedestrians cross, whether they were locals or tourists.
Overall, Sochi's a decent city, but I'm not sure it's for everyone. To be honest, it wasn't really my cup of tea. I'm not exactly itching to go back anytime soon.
live_helpFeatured FAQ
What are the best things to do in Sochi?
Sochi has a lot to offer, from its beautiful beaches to its stunning natural scenery. Some popular attractions include the Rivera Park, the city's market, Stalin's Dacha, and the History Museum of Sochi.
What is the best time to visit Sochi?
The best time to visit Sochi is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is warm and sunny. However, be prepared for crowds and high prices during peak season.
How do I get around Sochi?
Sochi has a convenient transportation system, with buses and taxis readily available. You can also walk or bike around the city, which is a great way to explore its scenic streets and attractions.
What are the prices like in Sochi?
Prices in Sochi are higher than expected, especially during peak season. However, you can find some affordable options if you're willing to look around and negotiate.
Is Sochi suitable for people with mobility issues?
Unfortunately, Sochi's infrastructure is not well-suited for people with mobility issues. The city's layout is exhausting, with steep hills and lack of sidewalks in some areas.
What are some of the local customs and traditions?
Sochi has a rich cultural heritage, with many local customs and traditions to explore. Be sure to try some of the local cuisine, visit the city's museums, and attend some of the local festivals and events.
How do I stay cool in Sochi?
Sochi's heat and humidity can be overwhelming, especially during the summer months. Be sure to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, and take breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces.
What are some of the best restaurants in Sochi?
Sochi has a wide range of restaurants to choose from, serving everything from traditional Russian cuisine to international flavors. Some popular options include Graça, which serves delicious food with a great view.
check_circlePros
- •The city's architecture and natural scenery are breathtaking, with impressive buildings and stunning views.
- •The beaches, although crowded, are clean and modern, with modern amenities and services.
- •The city's market is a great place to find souvenirs and try local food, with a wide range of options to choose from.
- •The Rivera Park is a kid's paradise, with plenty of activities and attractions to keep them entertained.
- •The city's transportation system is convenient, with buses and taxis readily available.
- •The locals are friendly and welcoming, making it easy to navigate the city and find what you need.
- •Sochi has a rich cultural heritage, with many local customs and traditions to explore.
- •The city has a wide range of restaurants to choose from, serving everything from traditional Russian cuisine to international flavors.
cancelCons
- •The heat and humidity can be overwhelming, especially for those not used to it.
- •The city's layout is exhausting, with steep hills and lack of sidewalks in some areas.
- •The beaches are often crowded, which can make it difficult to relax and enjoy the sun and sand.
- •The water is rough in some areas, making it difficult to enjoy water activities.
- •The city's infrastructure is not well-suited for people with mobility issues.
- •Prices in Sochi are higher than expected, especially during peak season.
- •The city's modern beaches are not as tranquil as we were hoping for, with jetties dividing the beaches into tiny sections.
- •The city's waterfront has some modern beaches with gazebos, but they're also crowded and lack the tranquility we were looking for.
