What to see in Gelendzhik and where to go - the city and surrounding area

Gelendzhik is not only a resort and beaches. These are slender green mountains, rushing rivers and cool waterfalls located in its surroundings. Most tourists strive for them both in the summer heat and in the quiet off-season. In addition to them, there is a wide selection of attractions in surrounding cities and towns, small and large resorts on the Black Sea coast.

This advice will help you not get lost in the variety of what you can see in the vicinity of Gelendzhik, identifying the most attractive ones. It is unlikely that you will be able to visit everything in one visit, and therefore there will be a pleasant reason to return. Interesting places are accessible independently by car, regular buses or as a guided tour. They are suitable for families with children, lovers of hiking, fans of entertainment or, conversely, cultural and educational leisure.

Seashores outside Gelendzhik Bay Photo: © Marina Serova

Where to stay in Gelendzhik

Gelendzhik is a small city, so no matter where you stay, it won’t be difficult to get to the sea. Even from the remote Severny microdistrict, you can walk to the embankment in just 30–40 minutes.

As in other resort cities in Russia (except, perhaps, Sochi), in Gelendzhik the situation with hotels is not very good, and in the few decent ones, prices have skyrocketed in the summer season. For example, the best local hotel is Kempinski, where you will have to pay 35,000 rubles for a standard double room in August.

In the four-star Primorye Hotel they ask for 33,397 rubles per room. At the same time, guests of high-class hotels often complain that places on the hotel beach are sold to everyone and this creates certain inconveniences for those who paid a decent amount for the room and expected a secluded vacation.

But still, prices are not so high everywhere in Gelendzhik. Here is a small hotel called Kompass - if you go here at the end of August, you can check in for 6,675 rubles per day. Or here’s another stylish mini hotel, where a night in August will cost from 5,944 rubles.

There is also a private sector, but those who are looking not only for the proximity of the beach, but also for a designer approach to the design, will be disappointed: they simply won’t be able to rent a beautiful room on Airbnb. If you choose between the nicest options, you can rent an apartment for 3,500 rubles per day or a very modest studio for 1,600 rubles.

Camping with a tent by car

Gelendzhik campsites are a current accommodation option for vacationers who come to Gelendzhik with a tent by car. This is an economical, unusual and even romantic way to spend a vacation at sea.

In summer, dozens of campsites operate in Gelendzhik and its surroundings. Most often they offer places for a tent and car, barbecues, equipped toilets and cold water. The most advanced ones organize hot water, electricity, Wi-Fi, entertainment for children and even quite comfortable houses and rooms. Please note that the conditions, prices and availability of camping at a particular location may change from year to year.

In Gelendzhik itself there are several campsites that accept tourists with tents by car. Famous and popular among them are “Hedgehog” and “Hermes”, located near the middle part of the famous embankment.

Photo: © Zhenya Gorshkova

A favorite option for those who value nature and the absence of fuss is camping by the sea and pine trees, usually on a high bank (these are the characteristics of the coast). Most of them are located in the area of ​​​​Betta and Arkhipo-Osipovka: “Radiotochka”, “Nazarova Dacha”, “Enot”, “Sosnovy Bereg” and others. Closer to the second village you can find options with a gentler descent to the beach. The former camping sites near the Blue Deep also remain popular.

What sights of Gelendzhik to see

Embankment with sculptures

Photo: SenSeHi/Shutterstock
You should start your acquaintance with Gelendzhik with a walk along the long embankment. This is the most comfortable part of the city; all the tourist infrastructure is concentrated here. Along the way, you will come across many life-size sculptures: the Scientist Cat immortalized in bronze from Pushkin’s fairy tale, monuments to the tourist and the bride (we’ll talk about the latter below) and more.

Sculpture "White Bride"

Photo: Bagrin Egor / Shutterstock
The symbol of Gelendzhik is located between two piers: Central and Commander pier. There is also a plaque with an explanation that the name of the city translates as “daughter-in-law.” This is where the concept of the monument came from. It looks like nothing special, but locals and visitors love the sculpture very much, so there’s almost always a crowd nearby wanting to take a photo as a souvenir.

Gelendzhik lighthouse on Tolstoy Cape

Photo: AleksNT/Shutterstock
One of the most famous and “postcard” places in the city is located on Tolstoy Cape. The image of the lighthouse is found on many souvenirs; you can get acquainted with the attraction during boat trips and excursions. There is a wild beach next to the lighthouse.

Gelendzhik gate lighthouse

Photo: Al_Gol / Shutterstock
If you don’t know that this is a lighthouse in front of you, the building can be confused with a residential pre-revolutionary mansion. Its practical function is only hinted at by the vertical red stripe on the façade. Alas, you can’t get inside, so you’ll have to admire the structure from behind the fence. At the same time, take a photo next to the monument to the Lighthouse Keeper.

Other places by car

Tourists by car have access to the attractions of neighboring resorts located near Gelendzhik.

Kabardinka , a large resort village 10 km from the city, can be interesting and entertaining In it you can stroll along the embankment and catch all the entertainment along the way if you are with children. Then hide in the shadow of the wonderful architectural Old Park or go for lunch to the restaurant with its own trout farm, “Kastalskaya Kupel” , whose garden is no worse. In addition, do not miss the opportunity to see the real huge cargo ship "Rio" , which ran aground off the southern coast of the village.

Beyond Kabardinka along the M-4 highway towards Novorossiysk you can visit the open-air museum “Battery No. 394 of Captain A.E. Zubkov” , one and a half kilometers further is the memorial “Sailors of the Revolution” . These places provide an opportunity to learn about the history of these places and see the sea panoramas that open from the observation decks. It is more difficult for a tourist without a car to get here.

Lookout at the “Sailors of the Revolution” memorial between Kabardinka and Novorossiysk Photo: © Natalia Semchina

Known to everyone, this is the intended route for many travelers along the Black Sea coast. From Gelendzhik the distance to Abrau is 50 km. Just keep in mind that a visit usually includes a tasting, and drivers will have to save their drinks until the evening. On the way there will be Novorossiysk - an important port and city of military glory; it also has attractions that deserve at least a couple of hours of walking.

Useful material on the topic:

From Novorossiysk to Gelendzhik by car What to see in Novorossiysk in 1 day

If you want to diversify the landscape, not excluding a seaside holiday, go to the beaches of Divnomorskoye or Arkhipo-Osipovka . of Krinitsa and Betta are distinguished by silence, tranquility and clear sea .

More options for surrounding areas where you can go from Gelendzhik by car:

What to see in the vicinity of Gelendzhik

Lake Abrau Photo: © Vladimir Shalaev

What sights to see in the vicinity of Gelendzhik

Rock Sail

Photo: Dmitrii Pridannikov / Shutterstock
You need to look for this amazing natural monument in the vicinity of the village of Praskoveevka and the Dzhankhot farm, next to the beach. A huge stone monolith rises 25 meters above the sea, and there is a strange “window” in the lower corner. It is believed that this is a trace from a cannonball that hit the rock back in the distant 19th century (however, this version has not been proven).

Experienced tourists highly recommend Review on Tripadvisor to admire the object from afar - if you believe the reviews, from Praskoveevka beach you will have to walk on slippery stones and water, and the area around is completely unsuitable for recreation.

Wild beach "Sosnovka"

Photo: BSolnyshkin/Shutterstock
The most remote and inaccessible beach of Gelendzhik is located near the Sosnovaya Shchel SNT. There are large pebbles here, and the water is blue and clear. Sometimes you can even see dolphins in the sea, which are not at all afraid to swim close. But it is worth considering the following point: you will most likely have to pay to enter the territory, and the descent to the beach is very difficult and inconvenient.

Pshad dolmens and the Dolmen farm

Photo: Denzenuch/Shutterstock
Dolmens are mysterious archaeological monuments built back in the Bronze Age. Moreover, historians are still trying to unravel the purpose of these stone sculptures. There are many dolmens in the Gelendzhik region, some of them are located in forests and mountains, so few people know where to look for them.

A proven way to see the structures is to visit the private farm “Dolmen”, owned by the Bambakov family and located in the village of Pshada. On its territory you will find as many as four dolmens: one on the top of the mountain, the other three on the mountain slopes.

Gebius Falls

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Posted by Natalya Yuzhnaya (@yuzhnaya1) Mar 11, 2022 at 11:09 PDT

The best time to visit the waterfalls on Mount Gebius is spring or summer, and immediately after good rain. But if you come in the fall, there is a chance that there won’t be much water in the river. The trail to the waterfalls begins on the Gelendzhik-Dzhubga highway near the large white inscription “Gelendzhik”.

For unprepared people, this walk may seem difficult. But in general, it is accessible to any physically healthy person, but you must wear comfortable shoes: you will have to walk a lot on wet and slippery stones.

Dolmens of the Zhane River and the village of Vozrozhdenie

Photo: Aleksandr Grechanyuk / Shutterstock
In the valley of the Zhane River in the village of Vozrozhdenie there are four more famous dolmens. And then the riverbed forms several beautiful cascading waterfalls where you can swim. The river is considered a place of power, so here you can see tent cities where people live, engaged in various spiritual practices. You will have to pay 250 rubles for entry (“environmental fee”), but tourists say Review on Tripadvisor that there are also simple bypass trails.

Waterfalls of Mount Shahan

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