Sochi is the most pleasant resort for walking. Green, blooming, with many parks, public gardens and gardens. We invite you to take a walk around Sochi with us. We will show you the most beautiful places!
In this photo review, I will not give a route in the literal sense of the word - “don’t go there, go here, and at 14:30 go to a specific restaurant for lunch.” I will share places where you can take a walk in Sochi and see something along the way, and you yourself choose the most interesting thing for yourself. For each place I will give a brief description, advice and share my impressions.
Excursions to Sochi
Marine station and port
Perhaps the most pleasant place for a walk in Sochi after the arboretum! Marina in the city is always beautiful. The blue of the sea, the whiteness of the yachts, their reflections in the water, and the slender spire of the sea station rises in the background.
Take a walk around the station and pay attention to the light galleries of the central facade, allegorical sculptures of the seasons and cardinal directions on the tower, and the elegant rotunda. Take a look inside the station - in the waiting room, decorated with stucco, there is a beautiful clock. And next to the building there are three parks for walking.
If you are going to take a walk in Sochi in the evening, come to the seaport. I advise you to come closer to sunset and take a boat trip or just walk, admiring the last rays of the sun, and take beautiful photos in low light.
By the way, the only annoying thing is the annoying invitations to go on boat trips.
Holiday guide to Sochi
It’s very exciting in the port before a storm.
Marine terminal in sunny weather.
Behind the maritime station there are several pleasant public gardens.
What to see and where to walk in Sochi: free route around the center
The optimal route around Sochi, which can be explored on foot in a few hours, looks like this:
Riviera Park - Riviera Beach - Seaport - old fort and art gallery - Church of the Archangel Michael - Historical Promenade or Primorskaya Embankment - Winter Theater.
Below there will be a photo and description of each place. I’ll also tell you where you can go to eat and where to take beautiful photos.
Park "Riviera
Now Riviera Park is unlikely to capture your imagination. But it's still worth a visit. I’ll tell you why here: Sochi Riviera Park: a place with history
Another argument is that entrance to Riviera Park is absolutely free, unlike the Arboretum. True, if you are with children, then get ready for the fact that you will still have to part with money - the park contains various attractions, plus a dolphinarium, penguinarium, butterfly garden, etc.
If you look at the park, exit it towards the sea. The next object awaits you there - Riviera Beach.
Beach and promenade Riviera
Riviera Beach was the most ordinary before reconstruction in 2022, but after it it became a very popular place in the city. A convenient modern embankment has appeared here - Riviera Embankment, Sochi: a new place of attraction.
And now in the evenings hundreds of people who like to take beautiful pictures or shoot sunsets for stories gather here:
The beach itself is quite good: wide, with small pebbles. But next to it the Sochinka River flows into the sea - so I can’t vouch for the purity of the water...
Riviera Beach
Walk along the embankment towards this very river, and when you reach the bridge, cross to the other side:
View from the Riviera Bridge to the Sochinka River
On the other side, I also recommend not moving away from the sea, but walking along the embankment.
This way you will quickly get to the next must see point - the main Sochi Seaport.
And along the way you can stop by the Gastroport to eat if you’re already hungry:
True, from this place you can make a small deviation from the route and walk along the mall, but honestly, you will spend a lot of energy (they say it’s long), but you will see little.
Just this is the building of the new marine terminal:
Well, and a panorama of the same old Stalinist Sea Terminal , which is the hallmark of the city of Sochi:
But it’s definitely worth a closer look.
Sochi Sea Terminal
You will see its 70-meter spire from afar:
And when you get closer, you can see beautiful sculptures and stucco moldings, as well as take photos against the backdrop of moored yachts.
What else you can do here - read the article Sochi Marine Station: living beautifully is not forbidden.
When leaving the territory of the Seaport, do not forget to rub the noses and other parts of the body of the heroes of the film “The Diamond Arm”. Well, of course, not to them personally, but to a monument in their honor. Who should rub what? Unmarried young ladies are focused on the nose of Semyon Semenovich - after all, he turned out to be a faithful family man... The nose and hands of his wife, “the mother of my children,” are often rubbed by husbands who came to Sochi without their halves, say, on a two-week business trip in August. But he tinder not for himself, but for his wives, so that they would wait and believe, and clean pistols loaded with blanks...
But the bronze ice cream in the hands of Semyon Semyonovich’s son was chosen not only by ice cream makers, but in general by workers in the local service sector. Metal ice cream, according to legend, after touching it with the laboring palm of a barbecue master or a bicycle rental employee, contributes to the success of the summer season as a whole.
From this place I advise you to go along the street. Voykova to the intersection with the street. Cooperative, and there turn left. Here you will have the opportunity to go to the restaurant “Weeping Willow” (Voykova St., 2). Yes, again a reference to the legendary film, although the range of dishes (and prices) are not at all in the theme of the film...
Next, go up the stairs - this is the former Hellenic Descent . Once upon a time this was the road from the fortress gate to the craftsmen's estate. Along with Moskvina Street, Ellinsky Descent is the oldest street in the city.
Significant dates in the history of the city of Sochi are written on each step:
In short, watch your step and read, but don’t get carried away, otherwise you’ll miss the door on the right side. This will be the entrance to the old fort area. This is where the city of Sochi once began.
Fort
Sochi is a fairly young city compared to other large cities in Russia. And our resort town was formed on the site of a royal military fort.
At the beginning of the 19th century, on both sides of the river. Socha was the village of Sochipsy, in which about 450 families of Abazas, Ubykhs and Turks lived.
In April 1838, a squadron of the Black Sea Fleet under the command of Major General A.M. landed on the shores of the modern resort at the mouth of the Sochi River. Simborsky, who founded a military fortification here - Fort Alexandria (in honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I - Alexandra Fedorovna).
But a year later - in May 1839 - due to the similarity of the name with another fortification, Fort Alexandria was renamed Fort Navaginsky - in honor of the regiment that distinguished itself in the Caucasian War.
Now, of course, you won’t see that fort - only this fragment of the wall remains from it:
This fragment of the wall is a cultural heritage site and a monument to the history and culture of Russia.
Here you will see stands with weapons, old photographs of the city, and a corner with household items of the first settlers. Sometimes creative master classes are held here:
On the territory of the fort there is a symbolic sign “Zero Kilometer of Sochi”:
You can also go to the Fort art gallery, look at paintings and drink a cup of coffee:
In general, take a look and rate it.
And then cross to the other side of the road and enter the territory of the Church of the Archangel Michael .
Cathedral of the Archangel Michael
The Cathedral of the Archangel Michael is the first Orthodox church built on the territory of the Black Sea District. It was erected in honor of the end of the Caucasian War, on the direct orders of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich Romanov.
On May 26, 1874, a ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the temple was held. This day is considered the founding date of the cathedral.
It is noteworthy that the cathedral was founded on the site of an ancient stone temple from the Byzantine Empire, the ruins of which were excavated on the territory of the Navaginsky fort.
In the courtyard of the temple, during the reconstruction of 2007–08. , erected a stylized chapel in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “Life-Giving Source”. From there to the gates of the temple, facing Ordzhonikidze Street, there is a beautiful cypress alley. Follow it to the street and in the depths of the park you will see a more modern building - the Festivalny concert hall, a popular place for summer concerts of Russian artists:
Festival received its first spectators on July 14, 1979. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that from each of the 2,500 seats in the auditorium, located in an amphitheater, you can see not only the stage, but also the sea.
From Festivalny, I recommend moving along the upper promenade along the sea. It is also possible to use the lower one, i.e. along the embankment, but here you won’t see anything except shopping stalls and cafes/restaurants/bars.
But from the upper promenade there are much more interesting views of the sea.
And it is here that there are several more interesting objects.
Historical promenade (Primorskaya street)
The historical promenade is a quiet pedestrian street, or more correctly, an alley. It stretches from the Mercure/Pullman hotels to the Winter Theater. It runs along the sea, parallel to Ordzhonikidze Street. The length is only 700 meters, but it usually takes at least an hour to complete them, because there is so much to see and photograph.
Why historical? Yes, because it was in this part that all the significant buildings in the city appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And here is the “Cannon” monument , erected in memory of the victory of Russian troops in the Russian-Turkish War:
But the high-rise hotels Mercure, Pullman, Hyatt Regency Sochi, and Marins Park Hotel appeared here relatively recently:
But even in pre-war times, the Primorskaya Hotel and the Library named after. A. S. Pushkina (Primorskaya St., 1)
This small but stylish building was built mainly with public donations (including in the form of building materials), and the city government provided a plot of land free of charge. The designer and builder of the library building was city architect Alexey Yakovlevich Butkin. He didn't take a penny for his work. The groundbreaking for the building took place on September 25, 1911, and the opening took place on May 27, 1912. The name was approved on the same day. This is how the Sochi Public Library named after. A.S. Pushkin.
Next to the building there is a monument to “our everything” - Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin:
The monument was erected on May 27, 2012, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the library.
Actually, then you have to walk along a beautiful green alley along the sea, all the way to the Winter Theater. Here you can go to eat at the restaurants:
or still go down to the embankment, closer to the sea:
Or just sit on a bench and admire the seascape.
In summer, the embankment is very crowded, and the “pop” of the atmosphere is simply off the charts, especially in the evening. But in the off-season there is quite a pleasant promenade along the sea.
Winter Theater
The Winter Theater is another fine example of the Stalinist Empire style, as is the Sea Terminal. Stalin chose his project personally and I must say, he was not mistaken: a grandiose building with 88 columns, reminiscent of the Greek Parthenon, still looks very dignified today:
Construction began in 1934 and was completed in 1937. The opening took place on May 15, 1938 - that evening they performed Rimsky-Korsakov's opera The Tsar's Bride. This building is still the main theater venue in Sochi, where the Kinotavr, Kivin, and Theater Olympus festivals take place.
Behind the theater is the Phytophantasia garden:
Here, on an area of about 1300 m², bright tropical plants were planted, and a pond with carps was created:
You can get great photos here at any time of the year:
This is where you can finish your walking route through the center of Sochi. Because the walk will be quite decent in terms of time (at least 3 hours) and mileage.
But if suddenly you still have energy and time, then read on - how you can supplement this route.
Riviera Beach
After the park, check out the Riviera beach - probably the most comfortable and beautiful in Sochi, almost European. Its promenade reminded me of Barceloneta beach in Barcelona. It connects to the embankment of the Sochi River, along which tourists also walk.
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- Resorts of Greater Sochi: where to relax
I liked Riviera beach and its embankment more than other beaches.
The entrance to the beach is decorated with this beautiful Soviet stele.
What to watch in autumn
Many people are interested in where they can go to Sochi when the heat for a beach holiday and walks along the embankment has already receded, and the winter blizzard has not yet buried the ski resorts. Visit incredible parks, a sovarium, an aquarium, a dolphinarium, take a scenic cable car ride to enjoy the fiery red autumn foliage and evergreen conifers from above, go to shows and performances, go to the Mendelich Waterfalls Park or leave time to visit the Formula race track 1.
Pedestrian Navaginskaya street
Navaginskaya Street is a great place for walking in Sochi. This is how southern pedestrian streets should be designed so that you want to walk along them, and not run from there, dropping your slippers!
The street amazes with lush greenery - it seems that you can see half of the arboretum here. Palm trees, cypresses, agaves, yucca, pampas grass, oleanders, thujas and many more plants and flowers unknown to me. Benches, sculptures, cafes, restaurants and shops are unobtrusively located among the greenery. There is even a light and music fountain.
For all its tourist orientation, the appearance of Navaginskaya Street does not contain vulgarity and outright commercialism, as in Cypress Alley in Sudak, which plunges you into tourist hell. This is a place for leisurely walks and gatherings in cafes. It’s also convenient to go to the sea, because it will take you from the railway station straight to the seaport.
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Navaginskaya Street is surrounded by lush greenery.
Navaginskaya Street is lined with palm trees of different types.
It’s better to start your walk along Navaginskaya Street from the beautiful train station, and end at the seaport.
Where to go in the evening
Head to the Olympic Park for a colorful evening show of musical fountains, where 264 streams pirouette at the height of a 15-story building to the accompaniment of calm domestic and foreign music. All entertainment activities operate until 22:00. It is also worth taking a walk along Teatralnaya Street, sitting on a bench by the water, inhaling iodized air, or retiring in a cafe with a glass of wine overlooking the sea surface. There is a bike path on Navaginskaya Street, which is brightly illuminated at night - you can rent a bike right there.
Seaside Park
If you are an introvert or just looking for a calm and shady place to take a walk in Sochi, then you definitely need to visit Primorsky Park. There are no cafes or restaurants, no music blaring or animators shouting, no attractions or crowds of people. Only nature, benches and wonderful panoramas of the Black Sea framed by subtropical greenery.
The park stretches in a narrow strip from the Winter Theater approximately to the port. Some of the paths are level, but in some places you will have to go up or down steps. In some places there are stairs to the sea - you can always go out to the noisy embankment and the beach.
You can see the Winter Theater while walking through the Primorsky Park. View from the Primorsky Park to the sea.
What to visit in 1 day
One day in Sochi is extremely short, so you will have to choose what you want to see more: stroll along the elegant embankment, quickly get acquainted with the city center, go to Sochi Park, neighboring Adler or picturesque Krasnaya Polyana. Local guides will offer you interesting programs. By car with an experienced guide, you will not only completely drive through the central part and reach the Akhun heights with a gorgeous panoramic platform, but also visit several surrounding attractions along the way. A well-planned route can easily compete with a two- and three-day program.
Arboretum
49 hectares of plants - impressive, right? The arboretum is especially beautiful in March-April, when magnolias, wisteria, sakura, and tsarcis bloom. Some floristurists specially come to the arboretum in the spring to admire such beauty. Read about spring Sochi to find out when is the best time to come.
But in other months it’s good in the arboretum. Here you can find a bench in the shade and wait out the heat, look at birds and animals, and take a ride on the cable car.
The park is divided into two parts. The upper arboretum is a large park on a slope, and the lower one is intimate on the plain. The bottom one is more cozy, I like it better. It has huge bamboo groves, shady alleys, large ponds with pelicans and swans.
Entrance is paid, you will be given a single ticket for both parts of the park.
Find out more about the arboretum in Sochi.
It is better to come to the arboretum for at least half a day to see it in full.
In the arboretum you can admire not only plants, but also watch the life of waterfowl. For example, this pelican is a bird with character. When he makes landfall, watch out!
What to do in spring
At this time, the beach season starts, however, the sun is not yet so active as to interfere with the exciting sightseeing of local attractions. Take a bike or scooter to see as much of the city's beauty as possible. It is also important to visit waterfalls in the spring; when the snow melts, they are especially full and powerful. Together with them, it is worth visiting the nearby gorges and caves, conquering the picturesque excursion trails. In May, tourists visit tea plantations and spend evenings in cozy themed houses.
Abandoned sanatorium Ordzhonikidze
It’s pleasant to walk in the park of the delightful sanatorium: there are few people, a lot of shade, plus you can admire the beautiful architecture. And the architecture of the health resort will definitely not leave you indifferent. The Socialist Palace was a prestigious vacation spot in the Soviet Union - of course, a simple worker could not even imagine such luxury! Architecture in the Palladian style of the Renaissance, rich stucco, massive columns, luxurious staircases, weightless arches, whose vaults were painted by the masters of Palekh and Mstera. They say that the sanatorium served black caviar and sturgeon.
Now all this is gradually falling into disrepair, although there are rumors that the sanatorium has been bought and will be renovated. For now, you can get into the territory for free, but inside the buildings is impossible. Look at the photo and learn more about the Ordzhonikidze sanatorium.
The main building of the sanatorium with a six-column portico.
The most photographed place in the sanatorium.
14. Skypark
Skypark in Sochi is the first and only high-altitude extreme adventure park in Russia. His ideological inspiration was extreme sportsman Alan Hackett from New Zealand, who opened several bungee jumping points in different countries of the world. Let's say a few words about bungee jumping, if you are still not familiar with it: daredevils who dare to take on this mind-blowing entertainment are tied to a long elastic cable and thrown from a great height into a free fall. In the Sochi Skypark, such jumps are made from the Skybridge Bridge, one of the highest in the world. Two jumping platforms are located at an altitude of 69 and 207 meters: after such a crazy flight, many extreme sports enthusiasts claim that it is as if they were born again! In addition to wild jumps into the abyss, the skypark offers its fearless visitors a ride on the Mega Troll attraction, the fastest troll in the world. An open trailer, sliding along a metal cable, rushes at a dizzying speed of 120 km/h over the abyss of the Akhshtyr Gorge. Not everyone is able to overcome their fear and experience a mad surge of adrenaline on the rides of the skypark. But if you still decide to do this, your courage is worthy of admiration!
Dacha Kvitko
Colonel Kvitko's dacha is the most mystical landmark of Sochi.
And although the park around it is tiny and there is nowhere to walk, I included it in the selection because the place is interesting, beautiful and quiet. It’s interesting to climb around the castle and imagine how the aristocracy lived before the revolution. And what sunsets are here! In general, be sure to arrive an hour before sunset, but first read about the legends and history of the Kvitko dacha. Colonel Kvitko's dacha is a small Italian castle in Sochi, shrouded in legends.
These are the romantic sunsets you can enjoy from the terrace of the Kvitko dacha.
Where to go in inclement weather
If you are interested in the question of what to do and see in Sochi on a cloudy day, when there is a high probability of rain, go on a tour of museums, explore temples and churches, spend the evening in a concert hall or theater, warm up at a table in one of the cafes, or have a shopping in a shopping center. The abandoned sanatorium and preventive complex looks especially mysterious when it rains. Ordzhonikidze.
Amazing city - unusual facts
Like any person, the city of Sochi has its own unique characteristics. I will name just a few interesting facts of its brief history:
— The area of the city is larger than the area of 28 countries in the world, for example, the country of Luxembourg;
— Sochi is the second longest city in the world. The first Latin American city is Mexico City; it stretches for 200 kilometers. And the length of our resort along the Black Sea coast is 145 kilometers;
— In Russia, only in Sochi with its unique climate do palm trees grow. Not the kind in pots at home, but the real ones, on the streets. In addition to these exotic trees, delightful magnolias and evergreen eucalyptus trees, which are also called the marvelous tree, bloom here. As well as fruits unusual for our country such as medlar, figs and feijoa;
“Only in the 20s of the 20th century, through the heroic efforts of the doctor Sokolov, did these places, where the world resort city is now located, become suitable for human habitation. Until this time, numerous local swamps were breeding grounds for swarms of nasty malaria mosquitoes. Therefore, criminals from all over the country were sent here;
— Sochi is the birthplace of Russian tea. Thanks to tea grower Koshman, we can now enjoy Russian tea growing in Sochi. Although until 1901 this was considered impossible.
Sochi waterfalls
For example, have you heard that Sochi is surrounded by more than 70 waterfalls? Most of them are located in the Sochi National Park, which is called the “cradle of waterfalls.” Sounds nice, doesn't it?
The most pleasant and surprising thing is that many water beauties are located within the city of Sochi. You can easily and quickly get to, for example, the Orekhovsky waterfall. Well, unless, of course, it’s pouring rain, as it was in my case.
