10 Best Sights in Sochi, Russia

For Russian tea drinkers, Sochi is well-known as the only place in the country that produces tea (the most famous local brand is Krasnodarskyi). Unique climatic conditions mean that Sochi's tea plantations are the northernmost in the world. A trip to this tea-growing farm includes a field lecture on the peculiarities and history of tea in Russia and a tea-party in a Russian wooden izba (country log home), along with a performance by a folklore group singing traditional Russian songs and engaging in lively accordion music. You will drink tea in a traditional Russian way—from the samovar—as well as sampling teas paired with Russian breads, nuts, and locally baked pies. The izba is located on top of a mountain and offers unforgettable views. One side looks out toward the sea and the other faces the snow-covered Caucasus Mountains.

The curative springs of Matsesta, meaning "fire water," were first discovered by ancient Greek and Venetian merchants during their intensive exploration of these shores. The sulphurous springs are responsible for Sochi's existence as a health resort since in the early 1900s. Visit the contemporary bath complex for a soak; the facility still serves up to 2,000 patients per day.

Without exaggeration, this is Sochi's most popular public park for both locals and visitors. It is a public park in a true sense of the word. Visitors will find exhibitions of arts and crafts (it's a great place to purchase souvenirs); a "Glade of Friendship" with magnolia trees planted by honorary guests of Sochi, including a tree planted by the Soyuz-Apollo astronauts; statues of famous Russian writers; amusement park rides for kids; several cafés; and the tennis courts of Y. Kafelnikov Tennis School, where Maria Sharapova began her professional career. A free shuttle bus runs to the park from the cruise port.

Painted green for camouflage, the building that was once Stalin's favorite summer residence is not terribly inviting, with its dark interiors, heavy curtains, and scant lighting. However, the dark redwood furniture and personal belongings of the owner—all still as they were when Stalin came here— make quite an impression. There is a rumor among locals that Stalin's ghost is haunts the place, but you'll have to visit and decide for yourself.

Also known as the Dendrarium, a Greek word meaning collection of trees, Sochi's Botanical Garden, a once-private collection of exotic plants, is now a renowned collection of more than 1,800 species of trees and bushes, which are divided into sections representing virtually every continent of the world. Locals like to say that it's a museum of nature that offers you a trip around the world in one hour. The park is divided into two parts. The upper Dendrarium is on a hill and has a layout of a classical Italianate park with decorative fountains, rotundas, and sculptures that dot the landscape. The lower Dendrarium has a pond with swans and pelicans. If you choose, a cable-car ($) will take you to the top of the hill, where you can soak up the picture-perfect panorama of the park and the deep-blue Black Sea below. A visit to the park does require climbing stairs.

Long before Vladimir Putin made Krasnaya Polyana a pet project—that of turning a dilapidated Soviet resort into a world-class ski destination—Czar Nicholas II used the hillside village as his getaway hunting ground. The snowy mountains, located a short drive from the beaches of Sochi, are home to three ski resorts, including the new Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort, where the Olympic alpine skiing and snowboarding competition will take place. The mountains, which reach over 6,000 feet in some places, provides up to 140 days of skiing per year and other activities such as mountain biking, rafting, and hiking. Many luxury hotels and restaurants are under construction here in preparation for the Olympics.

Perched at the apex of the 2,100 foot high Mount Akhun, the mountain's observation tower has become a popular tourist attraction in its own right. Built in 1936 of limestone in the Romanesque style, the 100 foot high tower offers the best panoramic views of Sochi. Ascending 200 steps to the top of the tower, you'll find the most common Caucasus fauna on display at a small exhibit and will be rewarded with beautiful views of the Black Sea, the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains, and the city of Sochi spread out along the sea's banks.

This grand example of classical architecture is one of the largest museums on the Black Sea coast. The halls exhibit artifacts and paintings from the times of antiquity to the present, though the main emphasis is on Russian and Soviet painters, especially the evolution of Russian academic painting of 19th and 20th centuries. The museum takes pride not only in some paintings of the Russian masters known all over the world but also in a historic collection of Russian graphics covering a span of 150 years.

For those who have had enough of the beach and sea views and want to retreat into forested groves, this is the place to visit. Here, the winding paths of the park, lined with yew and box trees, offer a literal breath of fresh air. The grove is part of Sochi National Park and the only place in Europe where box and yew trees grow over a vast territory. The park is also known as the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve.

If you are in the mood for a long stroll, go down to the Sochi Seaport, which is filled with shops and restaurants, vacationers and fishermen. Some of Sochi's most famous landmarks are here, including the Soviet-era Seaport Terminal building, the Olympic Countdown clock, the Festival Hall, and the Mayak Aquapark. The port is undergoing a major expansion as part of the Olympic reconstruction of the city.