Find out how interesting it is to relax in Sochi in winter - where to go, what to do, and where are popular vacation spots. What is the weather on the coast and in the ski resorts. How much does popular entertainment cost?
What a winter in Sochi
The resort is located on the northern border of the humid subtropics and is protected by mountains, so the Sochi winter can be called warm. The average winter temperature in Sochi is + 8 ° С. During the day, the thermometer shows +13 ... + 15 ° С, and on clear days it rises to + 20 ° С. It is colder in the mountains and a lot of snow falls.
It often rains on the coast from December to February. Windless sunny days are replaced by a piercing wind.
For a comfortable stay in Sochi in the winter of 2020-2021, take a windproof jacket with you. It is useful for trips to the mountains and walks by the sea. Pack your suitcase with demi-season clothing, waterproof shoes, sunglasses, an umbrella or raincoat.
Go skiing in Krasnaya Polyana
There are three modern ski resorts near Sochi - Gorki Gorod, Rosa Khutor and GTZ Gazprom. You can get from the central part of Sochi and Adler to Krasnaya Polyana by taxi and regular buses No. 105, 105c and 135.
Gazprom is located below other mountain resorts. It is slightly warmer and less crowded on weekends than Gorki Gorod and Rosa Khutor, and there are excellent green trails for learning newbies. Rosa Khutor is loved for its cool blue tracks and the largest ski area in Krasnaya Polyana.
The ski and snowboard season starts in December, but the best time is February. In the middle of winter 2020-2021, excellent snow and wonderful conditions for freeriding are guaranteed in Sochi. You don't have to take your equipment with you. Everything you need can be rented. If you don't know how to ride, get an instructor! A course for beginners - 12 hours of lessons and 3 hours of theory at the Riders School costs from 15 thousand rubles.
Swim in warm water pools
The Black Sea is cold in winter, but this is no reason to give up pleasure! Many sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels in Sochi have heated pools. It is especially pleasant to swim in the heated seawater. The Sochi Grand Hotel Zhemchuzhina 4 * is famous for its huge outdoor pool with warm sea water. The pool has a length of 50 m, a width of 25 m and a depth of 1.8 to 4.7 m. The temperature of +27 ... + 28 ° С is maintained in it all year round.
During your holidays in Sochi in winter 2020-2021, relax in the indoor pools with heated water in Krasnaya Polyana and at the Rosa Khutor ski resort. Imagine how great it is to spend a day on the snow-covered slopes, and in the evening admire the Caucasus Mountains from the panoramic windows of the pool!
Have fun at the water park
Summer holidays in Sochi cannot be imagined without noisy resort water parks. Although most of them work only during the warm season, in winter 2020-2021 in Sochi, you can have a great rest in indoor water parks.
According to reviews, the most popular is Mountain Beach in the village of Esto-Sadok. It occupies the top floor of a shopping mall in Gorki Gorod. There is snow outside the window, and the water park under the glass panoramic roof resembles a paradise tropical island! Here it is + 28 ° С, in the wave and swimming pools, warm water and even white sand is heated so that it is comfortable to walk on it barefoot and play beach volleyball.
A round bowl with a foaming jacuzzi is furnished with sun loungers and green palm trees. There are seven slopes especially for those who love water slides, although there are no particularly extreme ones. Admission for adults on weekdays costs 1400 rubles, and on weekends - 1500 rubles.
Go on an excursion
What to do in Sochi in winter for lovers of excursions? Check out the interesting sights around the resort! Sightseeing tours around the city, trips to the Caucasian reserve, Agura gorge, Yew-boxwood grove and trekking along the Aibga ridge are popular among tourists. In the winter of 2020-2021, group excursions from Sochi cost from 800 rubles, and individual ones - from 2,000 rubles. Look for excursions in Sochi on the Tripster and Sputnik8 services, the most popular of them are:
- All Sochi in 8 hours - 10 thousand rubles for 1-4 people.
- Jeep adventure in the vicinity of Sochi - 15 thousand rubles for 1-6 people.
- From Sochi to Abkhazia: Gagra, Ritsa, New Athos - from 12 thousand rubles for 1-11 people.
- Hike to the Eagle Rocks and Agursky Waterfalls - from 3000 ₽ for 1-2 people.
Visit Abkhazia
A one-day tour with a visit to Lake Ritsa will be a vivid experience! Sochi is located near the Abkhaz border, and no visas are required to visit the "Land of the Soul". You will be surprised by the contrast between the azure sea water of the Sochi coast and the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus. A trip to New Athos will allow you to see Orthodox shrines and the large New Athos cave. Try delicious dishes of Abkhaz cuisine and buy mountain honey and wine as a gift for your friends!
Group excursions from Sochi to Abkhazia in the winter of 2020-2021 are carried out on minibuses and large buses. Prices start at 1400 rubles. It is not a problem to see Sukhum and New Athos, but tours to the mountains are not always available. The winter road may be closed depending on the weather. Learn about rest in Abkhazia in winter.
Popular excursions:
- One-day auto tour to Abkhazia - 10900 ₽ for 1-3 people.
- Through Gagra to Lake Ritsa - 7000 ₽ for 1-4 people.
- Gagra, New Athos and Lake Ritsa - 11,050 ₽ for 1-3 people.
Swim with dolphins
The weather in Sochi is unstable in winter. When it rains, it is not very pleasant to walk. Find fun indoor activities! The Riviera Park is home to the largest dolphinarium in Eastern Europe. In the pool with a water temperature of + 24 ° C, guests are greeted by smart sea animals.
Swim holding on to the funky dolphin's fin and you will feel absolutely happy! One lap in the pool and a photo with a dolphin cost 2,000 rubles, swimming for 5 minutes costs 5,000 rubles. Don't forget to bring a change of shoes, towel and bathing accessories!
Get your adrenaline rush in Skypark
Sochi Skypark is the best place in the resort for extreme recreation! This is the longest suspension bridge in our country and 10 types of exciting attractions - flights on high-speed ziplines and high swings, mountaineering and freestyle bungee.
Adventures at altitude always charge you with energy and positive emotions. A walk along the 439 m long SkyBridge suspension bridge costs 1,500 rubles. On the one hand, you will see the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus, and on the other, the Black Sea coast. Try not to lose your composure over a gorge over 200 m deep!
Admire the coastline from observation decks
If you want to get the most pleasant experience of Sochi in winter, look at the resort from above! Mount Akhun is considered the best viewing platform in the vicinity of the city. Climbing the tower, you will find yourself at an altitude of almost 700 m above sea level. In clear weather, you can see from here for 70 km! The entire center of Sochi, Adler, the Black Sea and mountain ranges open up. Please note that a piercing wind always blows on the mountain in winter.
Much less extreme conditions are on the observation tower, which is located on Mount Battery, as well as in the elevated Primorsky Park, on the roof of the Oblaka club restaurant in Sochi and the Ferris wheel in Adler.
Walk through the arboretum
The arboretum is very nice in winter! A picturesque natural oasis in Sochi does not suffer at all from low temperatures. There are many flowers, green palms and lianas, swans, ducks and pelicans swim in the pond, and the air is filled with the aromas of pine needles. Especially wonderful exotic plants look under the fluffy layer of snow. True, snowfalls are rare in Sochi, and the snow cover does not last long.
During the winter months, the arboretum is open from 9:00 to 17:00, the ticket office and cable car are open until 16:00. The entrance to the Upper and Lower parks costs 320 rubles, and a one-way cable car ride costs 500 rubles.
Get to know the Olympic venues
What to do with children in Sochi in winter 2020-2021? Take your child to the Olympic Flame, Iceberg Ice Palace and Fisht Stadium, which were shown during the 2014 Olympics broadcast.All of them are within walking distance from each other in the large Olympic Park in Adler.
It is hot to walk in the park in summer, and very pleasant in winter. Every day excursions are held for tourists, and master classes for children. It is convenient to get from Sochi to the Olympic Park by bus and train. We advise you to visit here in the evening, when the beautiful lighting turns on.
Popular excursions:
- 3 resorts of Krasnaya Polyana - 1000 ₽ for 1 person
- Significant places of the Olympiad - 10 thousand rubles for 1-10 people.
- Tour in "Russian Switzerland" - 8100 ₽ for 1-7 persons.
