Sochi
Sochi is not one city but a 145-kilometre strip of life along the Black Sea. Here you can pair a subtropical beach holiday with skiing on a mountain slope — all within a single trip. From the Adler embankment to the upper runs of Rosa Khutor you can travel in about an hour aboard the Lastochka express train — and that is the resort's main advantage. Add to that the Arboretum, the Olympic Park and the hydrogen-sulphide spa at Matsesta, and you get a holiday in which you can change the script every day.
Where to stay: four Sochis in one
The resort is divided into four districts, and each has its own draw.
Central Sochi suits lovers of the classics. Here you will find the Sea Port with its 1955 spire, Riviera Park with the Friendship Glade and the Sochi Arboretum. The Arboretum contains 1,800 plant species, and a cable car runs between its two halves.
Adler and Sirius form the youngest part of Greater Sochi. This is where you’ll find the Olympic Park, the Fisht Stadium with its 40,000 seats, and Sochi Park with two dozen rides. The airport sits just seven kilometres away.
The Khostinsky district appeals to those who value nature and want to look after their health. You can visit the Agura Waterfalls, the Yew and Boxwood Grove, Mount Akhun with its 1936 observation tower, and the Matsesta balneological complex, built in 1902.
Lazarevskoye and Loo are the choice for travellers seeking a quieter beach holiday. Long pebble beaches and water parks await you here.
Sochi has more than 640 hotels. Rates start from 5,500 ₽ per night. For example, you can stay at:
- Green House Detox & SPA Hotel — the hotel is located in the centre;
- Kosmos Sochi — located in Adler.
You can browse the full hotel catalogue on the Sochi hotels page.
Seasons and the Lastochka: getting around Greater Sochi
Summer is beach season: in July the air reaches +26 °C, in August +28 °C, while the sea sits at +24…+26 °C. In September the heat eases but the water stays warm. This stretch is known as the velvet season — it costs more than the shoulder months, but there are fewer tourists and none of the crowds.
Winter on the coast is mild, with temperatures of +9…+11 °C. In Krasnaya Polyana the snow holds steadily from December through to the end of April. The upper runs of Rosa Khutor sit at an altitude of 2,320 metres, which keeps the ski season open until early May.
The Lastochka is the resort’s main mode of transport. The trip from central Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana takes about 55 minutes, and to Adler about 40 minutes. Trains run every one to two hours, with a fixed fare.
The A-147 highway often jams up in high season. So renting a car only makes sense if you plan to head out to the Lazarevsky district or the waterfalls.
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Frequently asked questions about Sochi
The best window runs from mid-June to late September. July and August are the peak of the season, when prices are at their highest. September brings the velvet season: the water is still warm at +24 °C, while the heat has begun to ease.
Yes, that is precisely what makes Sochi special. From the seafront to the cable cars of Rosa Khutor takes about an hour on the Lastochka. So even in summer it is worth setting aside a day to ride up to Rosa Peak.
The airport sits in Adler, 30 km from central Sochi. The Lastochka covers the route in about 40 minutes; by taxi it takes anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour, since the journey can stretch out because of traffic on the A-147.
The most convenient option is Adler or Sirius. Sochi Park, the dolphinarium, the Ornitopark and Skypark are all nearby, and the sea is within walking distance. Another option is Lazarevskoye, with its long beaches and water parks.
Yes, it does. From June to September the following are open:
- the cable cars of Rosa Khutor, Gazprom and Alpika;
- the Mendelikha waterfall park;
- trekking and cycling routes.
In the mountains the temperature runs 5–8 degrees cooler than at the coast.