Adler/Sochi

Good to know

1. 1Sochi stretches along the coast for well over a hundred kilometres, so it is more a string of districts than a single compact city. Adler sits at the southern end, close to the border with Abkhazia.
2. 2The city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics. The ice arenas stand by the sea in the Olympic Park in Adler, while the ski slopes are up in the mountains at Krasnaya Polyana.
3. 3The climate on the coast is subtropical, with palms, magnolias and citrus trees growing in the parks. Tea is grown in the area too, and it is often described as the northernmost tea-growing region in the world.
4. 4The beaches are mostly pebble rather than sand, and the water is calm and usually warm enough for swimming in summer.
5. 5The food shows the influence of the Caucasus. Expect grilled meat, khachapuri (cheese-filled bread), Adyghe cheese, trout from mountain rivers, and sour plum sauces such as tkemali.
6. 6People speak Russian, and you will see Russian signs almost everywhere, so learning to read a few Cyrillic words helps a lot.

Tips for a first visit

• Pick your base with the coast's length in mind. Adler is handy for the airport, the Olympic Park and the road up to the mountains, while central Sochi has the promenade, the old sanatoriums and more restaurants.
• Bring sandals or water shoes for the pebble beaches, and a light rain jacket, since the coast can get heavy showers in any season.
• Try local honey, tea, grilled trout and fresh cheese from the markets. Carry a little cash for market stalls and small cafés.
• Do not plan to walk between districts, because distances are bigger than they look on a map. Use the coastal train, buses or taxis instead.
• If you go up to the mountains, dress in layers. It can be warm by the sea and cold and snowy at the top on the same day.
• When you visit someone's home, it is the custom to take off your shoes at the door, and hosts often offer tea or food more than once.

When to go

Summer, from about June to September, is the beach season, with hot, humid days and busy roads and promenades. May and late September to October are milder and calmer, and the sea is often still warm enough for a swim. Winters on the coast are mild and rainy rather than freezing, while the mountains above get proper snow, and skiing usually runs from around December into March.

From the airport

Sochi's airport is in Adler, right beside the Olympic Park, and it has its own railway station. From there, a train runs along the coast to Adler station and on to central Sochi, and the trip to the centre takes roughly an hour. Buses and taxis also make the trip, taking around 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, which can be heavy in summer. For the mountains, a train or road leads from Adler up to Krasnaya Polyana in under an hour.