“In Sochi, I think, every person has a vacation at least once in their life,” in the words of the main character of the film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears,” if there is an exaggeration, it is a slight one.
The southernmost resort in Russia was highly valued during the Soviet era, and in our time, holidays with children in Sochi have become even more popular. It has its own zest: in the summer, subtropical heat reigns here, and in the winter, the snow-covered slopes of the Caucasus bloom with the bright costumes of skiers.
A family vacation in this city is unlikely to be peaceful, but it certainly won’t be boring: there is so much entertainment to be had nowhere else in the Krasnodar Territory.
A review of Kidpassage will tell you about hot summers, warm seas, the best beaches and the intricacies of choosing accommodation in the Sochi resort.
Sochi on the map of Russia
The city of Sochi is a resort on the Black Sea coast in the Krasnodar region of Russia. The center of the municipal formation is the resort city of Sochi, also known as Greater Sochi.
The distance from Sochi to Moscow is 1621 km, to St. Petersburg – 2339 km, to Krasnodar – 300 km, to Anapa – 332 km, to Gelendzhik – 245 km, to Tuapse – 118 km, to Adler – 26 km.
The whole world knows where Sochi is. The Winter Olympic Games were held here in 2014, and in 2022 the city became one of the venues for the FIFA World Cup.
Luna Park
It seems that every corner of Sochi has its own amusement park. In fact, this is the right decision, because the influx of visitors is terribly large. Even with such a large number of entertainment venues in the city, long queues form.
This park is ideal for young children. There are trains and carousels, trampolines and slides. If in regular parks you were worried about the safety of your child, then in this place you can stop worrying about it. Everything here has a very low height and low movement speed. All attractions are brightly colored to delight the child's eyes.
Vacation with children
Sochi is often called the summer capital of Russia – and with good reason. Up to 5 million people vacation in this resort region every year, and the entire city economy is focused on vacationers.
Many come to Sochi with children: for the sake of the sea, sun, protected nature and a kaleidoscope of entertainment .
Families with an infant look towards Sochi with caution: they think about acclimatization, about having a place for a relaxing holiday with the baby, about baby food and hygiene products...
But even in such a busy and hot resort you can have a good time with your little one.
If you come to the sea at the beginning or end of the season, and choose a well-kept beach of one of the sanatoriums as a vacation spot, then the trip will only cause pleasant emotions.
A variety of entertainment options, from water parks to mountain hikes, speaks in favor of a holiday in Sochi with older children.
Just one thing to consider: the length of Greater Sochi is more than 100 km, and to visit, say, the Sochi Discovery World Aquarium or the Starfish Dolphinarium, you may have to make a whole trip.
Finally, in Sochi there are health camps for children - it is pleasant for an independent child to spend the summer in the company of peers.
- Children's camps in Sochi
One question remains: what is the best time to vacation with a child in Sochi? There are several answers to this.
Accommodation.
As for placement, you can choose:
sanatorium is the most expensive type of accommodation, usually has accommodation buildings and a medical building, a territory, a dining room, a private beach, the average price is 4000-5000 rubles. per person per day;- a hotel is usually cheaper than a sanatorium, has a building with several floors and a swimming pool, provides breakfast in its own restaurant, lunch and dinner - for an additional fee, about 3000-4000 rubles. per room;
- mini-hotel - the most popular accommodation option, optimal in terms of price-quality ratio - are two-three-story houses with several rooms, often with their own kitchens or one common for all guests, usually costs 2500-3500 rubles. per room;
- the private sector is the most inexpensive accommodation option with minimal amenities, often even without a bathroom in the room, prices start from 800 rubles. per room.
Which accommodation option is the best? Of course, with small children it is preferable to choose one of the first three options, which will provide the necessary comfort. We really liked using the Biglion service, here we were constantly able to find offers from mini-hotels with discounts of up to 60%, everything works great, we checked it ourselves, so use it with pleasure!
When is the best time to go?
The holiday season in Sochi is long: the first sun lovers appear on the shore in early May, and the last ones roll up their beach blankets only in October.
But mostly tourists flock to this resort in June - August, which is why summer in Sochi is hot both in terms of weather and in terms of the density of people on the beaches.
In May, before the season opens, holidays in Sochi are much calmer. True, the sea at this time is usually cold, you can’t swim, but the sun is not as aggressive as in summer.
It is futile to hope that the beaches will be empty in September. Many people go to Sochi for the velvet season, and for at least the first two weeks of autumn, the resort is crowded with vacationers.
Let's try to surprise: not everyone wants to get to Sochi in the summer. Some people prefer to come here in December - February. And this is due to the fact that near the capital of the 2014 Winter Olympics there is a modern ski resort called Krasnaya Polyana.
Sometimes professional competitions take place here, and the rest of the time ski lovers ply the snow-covered slopes.
When is the best time to go to Sochi to improve your health? The resort's sanatoriums are open all year round, so you can choose a calm spring or autumn for your holiday.
Touching zoo
We can guess what picture you managed to imagine in your head when you heard the phrase “touching zoo.” Do you think about the poor, destitute animals that you can’t even look at without tears in your eyes? Not at all. It’s just that in this place you can not only gently pet the animals, but also hold them in your arms. They are not aggressive at all and love people, their attention and affection.
Small animals are collected in this place. But this does not mean that it is not interesting to spend time with them. Visitors are fascinated by cute rabbits and hares. They laugh sincerely at the funny budgies who play happily with a bell and are frightened by their own reflection in a small wall mirror. The main favorite was and will always remain the fat raccoon. He simply basks in the rays of fame and affection, behaves like an arrogant star. Well, what can you do, everyone’s favorite! Come see the spoiled handsome guy and other equally attractive inhabitants.
Weather and climate
The city, nestled under the wing of the Western Caucasus, has a unique climate - it is located in the northernmost subtropics.
Not everyone tolerates the humid subtropical climate of Sochi well, and if the heat and stuffiness are a burden to you, it is better to pay attention to other resorts in the Krasnodar Territory.
Summer comes to Sochi already at the beginning of May , when the air warms up to +20-25°C. The air temperature in June reaches +25-30°C, and in the second half of the month you can safely swim in the sea.
Those planning a vacation in Sochi for July-August need to be prepared for an air temperature of +28-35°C. The heat combined with high humidity are not the most suitable conditions for family vacations.
September is considered the best time for a holiday in Sochi with children. The thermometers remain at +25-28°C, the sea remains very warm, and the beaches are gradually emptying.
At the end of the month, you can plan a trip with your baby to Sochi - neither the heat nor the noise will bother you.
The nights at the resort are cool: even in summer the thermometer drops to +20°C, and in May and September with the onset of darkness it gets colder to +13-15°C. So, when going on vacation with your child, put not only a swimming suit in your suitcase, but also warm clothes.
In summer there are rains and thunderstorms. Usually there are no more than one or two rainy days per month, but the showers can be stormy.
In October it is still warm , the average temperature of the month is +20°C, but there are more rains and cloudy days.
In November the air cools down to +8-15°C, and from December to February thermometers show +6-12°C during the day and +1-8°C at night. It rarely snows in Sochi, but rainy winter days are common.
In March the weather changes every day. Then winter returns to +3°C, then summer comes with +21°C. In April, the heat is also unstable, but the thermometer increasingly reaches +15-17°C.
Valuable tips for choosing accommodation in Sochi.
Well done, you read almost to the end! Catch the promised valuable tips that will help you not ruin your vacation.
Location.
Carefully study the location of your chosen accommodation in advance, so that God forbid you do not settle in a new area under planes taking off and landing.
Since there is an airport in Adler, many planes take off and land every minute.
They do this in one single place.
Believe me, living there for a whole month, we saw enough of such pictures: a huge two-story Boeing landing right above the roofs of houses and mini-hotels, almost passing the landing gear over the roofs.
The sound is so loud that you want to cover your ears with your hands. I don’t know how you can live and sleep in these houses at night.
I’ll explain where this unfortunate place is: find on the map where the Mzymta River flows into the sea. If you stand with your back to the sea, then to the right of the Mzymta River there will be that same area with new buildings over which planes land and take off. Avoid staying there, especially with small children.
Sea water temperature
No matter how much one would like to think that the sea is always warm in a hot resort, the facts tell a different story. The average water temperature in Sochi by the end of spring is only +17°C, although sometimes the water warms up to +21°C in the last days of May.
In June you can already count on +23°C, and in July-August the sea temperature is +24-27°C.
The sea remains the same warm in September, only occasionally in the last week of the month the water cools down to +22-23°C. If you're lucky with the weather, you can swim in early October.
Park "Riviera"
Where to go on vacation in Sochi with your significant other? You should go to Riviera Park. Firstly, you can have fun on more than sixty attractions. Secondly, you will have an unforgettable walk along the alleys of the park, as well as a possible trip to the rose garden. In the rose garden there is a special bench for lovers, forged from a hundred hearts. Take a leisurely walk arm in arm past rose bushes of different types and sizes, stand under a sakura tree - what could be more romantic and beautiful than this?
If you want to unwind and get your dose of extreme sports, buy a ticket to the Free Fall Tower, Dragon Slide and Indiana.
There is also a tennis court, a mini-football field and a table with chess and checkers.
Transport
You can’t do without public transport in Sochi - the city is large, and you can only walk from the beach to the first line hotel. In other cases, you have to use buses.
Buses No. 1 – 99 run around the city; travel on them costs approximately 22 rubles. Preschoolers travel for free; tickets for school-age children must be purchased at full price.
Suburban buses are numbered starting from No. 100, the cost of the trip depends on the distance. There is a timetable at the bus station.
Another type of suburban transport in Sochi is electric trains. They do not get stuck in traffic jams like buses, but the price of a trip ranges from 100 to 350 rubles.
If you are going to use a taxi to get around Sochi, prefer federal services with a clearly defined tariff. There are a lot of private owners at the resort, but you need to bargain with them and sometimes show them the way.
Arriving in the city by car, you may encounter a lack of parking. We recommend checking whether parking is available at the hotel.
Advantages of the Adler region.
Of all the districts of Sochi for family holidays, I would recommend Adler for the following reasons:
proximity to the airport (almost any point can be reached in 10-15 minutes);- there are ramps and ramps for wheelchairs everywhere (a legacy of the Winter Paralympics);
- proximity to Olympic venues (Olympic Park, Olympic Village and Beach, Sochi Park), Park of Southern Cultures, shopping centers;
- cleanliness and order, which have been maintained since the Olympics in these places where most foreigners and guests lived;
- the closest thing to Krasnaya Polyana is either by car or by high-speed train;
- many branches of all banks and ATMs (also a legacy of the winter games).
Arboretum
Take a ride on the cable car, admire the surroundings of the entire Sochi from its top point, and then, slowly descending the mountain slope, see how diverse the flora of the subtropics is. All this can be done at the local arboretum.
The territory of the arboretum occupies about 50 hectares, so even with a strong desire to get around it, it is unlikely to be possible in 1 day. But even if you set aside 2–3 hours, you can easily see the most interesting places in this park with your children. More details ->>>
Nutrition
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It is impossible to go hungry in Sochi - the hospitable resort will feed everyone, from a sophisticated gourmet to an infant. If you choose a sanatorium or boarding house as your place of residence, you will hardly have to eat outside; in establishments of this type the food is very good. But if, due to an excursion or walk, you were unable to get to lunch, then a cafe or kebab shop, of which there are a great many in Sochi, will help out.
In the Adler district, the cozy cafe “Parus” became the leader in the number of ratings and reviews. The establishment is located on the embankment, with a magnificent view of the sea from its terrace. The cuisine is original, European, Caucasian and Mediterranean.
In the Central region, the Fettuccine trattoria has been pleasing tourists for several years. The Italian restaurant is great for a family lunch and receives the most rave reviews. You can come here to work up an appetite while walking through the arboretum.
In the Khostinsky district, the cafe “Udacha+” has earned the love of vacationers. The establishment serves famous red mullet, seafood, the freshest oysters and other delicacies.
Experienced tourists advise newcomers vacationing in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi to visit the cozy family cafe “Kasha”. Here you can try European, Mediterranean, Abkhazian and Georgian cuisines. The cafe serves healthy food, making it a popular choice for vegetarians.
Sochi has a huge number of canteens, snack bars, street kebab shops and fast food vendors. In order to please your loved ones with a delicious dish prepared by yourself, you can go to one of the local markets in the morning and buy fresh local products. Fruits, fish and seafood are especially good in Sochi.
Plein air - painting a picture with your own hands
For creative, inquisitive schoolchildren and their parents, we recommend purchasing an individual 2-hour excursion “Plein air - painting a picture with your own hands” (2,500 rubles per person). Together with an artist guide, you will go to the most picturesque corner of Sochi, where you will begin creating a painting.
You will return home with your painting - a reminder of a wonderful holiday on the Black Sea coast.
Your qualified mentor will tell you about all the intricacies of creating a canvas, give you a personal sketchbook and a comfortable chair. Even those who have never held a brush before will enjoy the tour! At the end of the excursion, you are guaranteed to have a memento that reminds you of a wonderful holiday on the Black Sea coast - a picture drawn with your own hand.
Schedule an original program for Monday or Friday at 16:00.
Tesla Museum
What do you know about Nikola Tesla? He is called one of the most mysterious scientists in history. The Tesla Museum in Sochi introduces the inventions of the brilliant engineer.
However, this place cannot be called a museum in the classical sense of the word. They won’t prohibit you from touching the exhibits here—on the contrary, they will show them in action and invite you to join in some experiments. The interactive is interspersed with the useful: children will be told what electricity is, where it comes from and why it is dangerous.
But the main reason people come here is the exciting Tesla show.
Seeing lightning cutting through the air and space to the accompaniment of electronic music is a spectacle that captivates even the most experienced visitors.
This is what the famous Tesla coils look like. Photo: pixabay.com
Address and visiting rules
Before visiting the museum, you should know that Tesla coils in action are very loud. The sound intensity during the show reaches 118 decibels. For comparison, a jet plane takes off with a sound intensity of 140 decibels. Visitors with pacemakers and children under six years of age are not allowed to attend the show.
The museum is open daily, and Tesla Show sessions are held every hour. The cost of an adult ticket is 400 rubles. Visitors aged 7–12 years old are admitted to the museum with a child ticket. Its price is 300 rubles.
The Tesla Museum is located in the Sochi Olympic Park. The landmark is a white tent near the Tesla Tower.
Address
: Sochi, Mezhdunarodnaya street, 12, Olympic Park.
"Dino Club"
Tell me, have you met dinosaurs? No, this is not a rhetorical question. You can easily see the ancient inhabitants of the Earth at the Dino Club in Sochi.
Robotic dinosaurs live here. Development engineers tried to bring mechanical lizards closer to real prototypes, giving them voices and the ability to move. So, welcome to the Mesozoic.
- How to make your trip here as educational and productive as possible?
- Join the excursion. Yes, adults too. The guides will talk about the life of dinosaurs, share interesting facts and answer questions.
- Complete a dino quest in virtual reality. If you wanted to try yourself in the role of a desperate scientist and save dinosaurs from extinction, this is your chance.
- Be sure to take a photo. Otherwise, no one will believe that you met a tyrannosaurus.
How to get there
Dino Club is based in the Olympic Park. To avoid getting lost, enter from Mezhdunarodnaya Street.
It is best to check prices at the checkout - the cost of visiting the Dino Club depends on the age and number of guests, as well as the duration of the quest (it is paid separately).
Address:
Sochi, Mezhdunarodnaya street, 12.
