Situated in the southernmost district of the city of Sochi, Adler city has the Black Sea as a serpent guarding it.
It was one big bold bet of Vladimir Putin to turn this sleepy village, once mostly a swampland, into the international tourism destination that it has metamorphosed into.
The city was at its zenith when it proudly hosted the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in the year of 2014.
The streets are flooded with the noise of Russian and Armenian tongue as English is not a very popular lingua franca of the Ruskis.
The Sochi International airport serves the entire Adler area and from there a huge line of buses is available.
Buses from other cities to and from Adler are also available from 7 in the morning till 10 at night. Almost all trains travelling to Sochi have their last stop at Adler.
So in terms of transportation, it is a very well connected place. The city has many skating centres that have mushroomed recently and the strong bonding of the city with sports is very much palpable in every inch of it.
The city offers a number of places to blow your mind away.
From the rich historical strings to the bonding with modern world, this city has it all; if you can discover it with the travellers’ eyes and an inquisitive mind.
Best time to Visit Adler
Visit Sochi between May till September every year, to find it in its full bloom and it is often called the unofficial “Summer Capital” of Russia.
The temperature varies from 20 degree Celsius to 27 degree Celsius keeping it somehow soothing.
Being in the subtropical climatic zone, enjoying yachts and surfing kites are the most popular summer activities here.
Best things to do in Adler
These are the top attractions to see and things to do in the city of Adler:
Ice Dome Bolshoy
It is an indoor games arena built in 2012 and was one of the venues of 2014 Olympics hosting the Ice Hockey, the most popular sport, declared by the organisers.
It was architecturally design to take shape of a frozen water droplet and the signature feature is its roof.
This spectacular marvel has LED lights all around its shell that illuminates the arena at night. The interior has the 12,000 seats are arranged in bowl-like setting.
This concourse is designed through 35,000 square feet of glazed glass, which allows the audience to have a view of the majestic Caucasus Mountains.
Along with the 2013 IIHF World U18 Championships and 2014 Olympics Ice Hockey it is also the venue to host the 2015 Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
In the upcoming days this auditorium will be hosting many sports events along with concerts and also serve as an entertainment centre.
My Favorite places to visit in Adler
Iceberg Skating Palace
The Iceberg Skating Palace is a 12,000-seat multi-purpose arena. The venue hosted the figure skating and short track speed skating events at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
In the construction of this venue 15, 000 tonnes of steel were used. The environment was taken into consideration in its construction.
About two hours are needed to adjust to the ice.
Along with the 2014 winter Olympics, it also hosted the 2012-2013 Grand Prix Figure Skating Finals.
During the Olympics most of the spectators were mesmerised by its grand form and the superb view available from almost all the seats.
While planning a trip to Adler, you should plan it coordinating with at least one game here.
It’s a wow experience! In the upcoming days this auditorium, may remain for ice skating or be converted into a cycling velodrome.
Fisht Olympic Stadium
Named after Mount Fisht, this is a grand stadium with a capacity to seat 40,000 spectators.
It was the venue to host the opening as well as the closing ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Games.
It is highly known for its grandeur and magnificence. The roof appearing as a snowy peak is made of approximately 36,500 square metre of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) and is the handiwork of Populous and British consultancy Buro Happold.
It will give you an amazing view of Krasnaya Polyana Mountains from the north and of Black Sea from the south as it where the upper deck of the stadium opens.
It is one of the 11 stadiums who would be hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup as well as one of the venues out of four to host the 2017 FIFA Confederation Cup.
In October 2013, a commemorative 100-ruble note was issued a hundred days before the start of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
The blue-tinted banknote depicts a flying snowboarder on a side, and on the other side are the Fisht Olympic Stadium and a firebird. Try to get a hand on one of them if u can!
Top things to do Sochi
Arena Shayba
Situated in the southern rayon of Sochi it is a multipurpose arena which can accommodate 7000 spectators.
As the name indicates “Shayba” Russian of “hockey puck” would be operated by the International Hockey Federation (IIHF), and it hosted the ice sledge hockey events during the 2014 Winter Paralympics and some of the ice hockey games of Winter Olympics as well.
The most interesting thing about this place is that it is a movable venue, which can be dismantled and shifted to another city to use as a game arena.
The main attraction of this place apart from its mobility is the latest LED scoreboard technology and a game presentation system along with statistics and security installations are done by Colosseo EAS from Bratislava in Slovakia.
In short it is a heaven for the ice hockey lovers, as this place is done both with taste and technological sense at its best.
Fun Things to do in adler
Adler Arena Skating Centre
The Adler Arena Skating Centre also known as the Adler Arena Trade and Exhibition Centre is an 8,000-seat speed skating oval in the Olympic Park, It opened in 2012 and looks like an iceberg or ice fault.
The skating oval arena hosted the speed skating events at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The arena is constructed with a crystal face theme and is supported by angular walls and triangular stained-glass windows.
The sporty impression was further enhanced by the grey-white colour combination.
The natural features of the place are wisely used to give a wonderful view to the spectators sitting inside the arena as the walls along the sides of the skating rink arena are made transparent.
In the upcoming days this super sleek oval arena would be turned into an exhibition centre.
What else to do in Adler?
Stalin’s Summer Residence
Just a few miles away from Adler, the summer residence of Stalin, hidden by thick trees in the hillside downtown Sochi, is a quintessential tribute to the short man syndrome.
As Hovantseva said “Part of our people think Stalin is a great figure in our history, and the other part thinks he’s a criminal.”
It is like going back to the cold war period to shake hands with history when you visit “Green Grove” the summer palace of the controversial legacy of Stalin.
Stalin demanded the property to be painted in the colour of Pea Green so that it would completely merge with its surrounding Constructed with only glue and wood, there were no metallic nails used to hold pieces of the construction material together.
To hear every footstep, carpeting was removed. As if this was not enough, Stalin would work at night and sleep during the day.
And also change his sleeping rooms thrice to four times in a day so that no one would get to know where he was.
The main attractions are the army cot where he slept, his 5 feet swimming pool, the tiny steps of the stairs to the second floor, all giving you as if a vision of the past. A must for all those who want a date with history!
Top Adler tourist attractions
Godlik Fortress
Another great historical excursion could be the Godlik Fortress . A name given to the remnants of a two century old triangular fortress of the Byzantine empire, which is believed to have been built back in the 4th or 5th century AD.
Thought the he ruins are in a poor condition today, a few crumbling towers still hold ground majestically, And so are the limestone walls a delight to feel.
It still happens to be an, it’s an impressive site that reminds visitors of the richness and extravagance of the once all-powerful Byzantines empire.
Located in nearby Lazarevskoe district, the ruins of Godlik Fortress can be reached by a public bus, train or taxi from Adler.
The ruins tells the story of a forgotten era, the feeling that usually envelopes your mind would be one of that this place belongs to a different world gone with the waves of winds of the history. It is heartwarming.
Famous things to see in Adler
The Trout Farm
The art of farming the trout fish or the sea cucumber is witnessed in this incredible farm a few kilometres from the city.
The largest fish farm in Russia has 131 fishing ponds for trout and 6 fishing ponds for carps.
Not just a farm, but also an amazing tourist spot, visiting it, you can get the complete know how about the trout plantations and observe the fish, feed it, and go fishing at ponds.
Try the incredibly tasty smoked trout here and you would want to visit it again and again for more.
Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin Monument
Situated in Vinogradnaya , this is one of the rarest of rare monuments. The Monument to Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin is believed to be the only one of its kind in all of Russia.
A fairly modern statue this was erected in 2008 by Meisler , an Irani Sculptor and made to identical copies to be donated to the USA and UK also.
At the time of inauguration of this statue, a war museum for the World War II memoirs was also opened up.
Anchor and Cannon – Pushkin sky Park
Situated at the Pushkin sky Park, Primorskaya St, Sochi, the Anchor and Cannon Monument stands apart.
It is officially recognized as the oldest monument in the city, having been erected in 1913.
Although it’s somewhat small, the cannon of the monument is the authentic original 19th Century armament, which was then used during the bitter Russian-Ottoman war between 1828 and 1829.
The anchor meanwhile, dates from the 18th Century and together with its cannon serves as a symbol of Russia’s victory in that war.
It is one of the most popular attractions and bears the mark of the nation’s victory of which the Russians are immensely proud of.
Sochi Discovery World Aquarium
Situated in the Kurortniy Gorodok , it is the largest aquarium in Russia — Sochi Discovery World Aquarium was opened in Sochi.
On the sprawling territory of 6000 square meters there are 30 aquariums, with a total of 5 million litres of water.
The feeling of being surrounded by oceans while actually being under it is amusing, the colour palate of living corals, the various species of freshwater as well as sea creatures, the hustle and bustles of the sea life, all appeals to your senses.
The entire exposition of the Sochi Discovery World Aquarium fascinates by the gently splashing freshwater “lakes”, bridges, “wild” forests, rocks and waterfalls: in this filigree frame the Jewellery of Russia’s biggest collection of the best works of nature which look particularly fascinating.
The entry is a bit costly but then again the experience is every penny worth your precious nickel.
Dagomys Tea-Party Houses
The true feeling of the ethnicity of this place is culpable in the tree growing part of the city.
The famous tea brand “Kasnodar Tea” is the local produce of the land as the world’s northernmost tea cultivation plantation since 1887.
The field trip to this plantation includes the oratory teachings of the art of tea cultivation and the history of Russia intermingled with tea.
The local tea-party houses in Uch-Dere hills are open for visiting. And the tour concludes with a tea party which has samovar, pirozhki, pancakes, jam and folk songs.
Added bonus, is a museum with traditional Russian crafts exposition.
Sochi Art Museum
The Sochi Museum of Art occupies one of the most beautiful buildings and was erected in Sochi in 1936 by Soviet architect I.V.Zholtovsky who designed this building.
The lofty columns of the portico, the vigorously accentuated elements of classical architecture lend this relatively small structure a majestic and festive look a few broad steps led into a roomy foyer flooded with sunlight pouring in through light arched windows.
This structure was taken into the Sochi Museum of art in 1972.
Its collection is the largest at the Black Sea coast as more than 5 000 items of various style and period from antique to contemporary.
Nightlife of Adler
Be it the DJs at Zvezdopad to dance all night or be it the casino table of Regency Palace or for that matter the adult entertainment section of the place, all sweeps you off your feet.
The liveliness, the trance and the discreteness of the nightlife of this city is a banquet for the connoisseurs.
The nightlife of Adler has everything to offer you. So when the sun sets, do not think of going to the hotel to sleep off. The calls of the Adler nocturnal are not to be left unanswered.
Taste buds of Adler
When in Russia, along with the places to see the gastronomic entrails are also a big part of your trips. The fact is that the Russians eat and drink well.
Few dishes that should be tried here are the shish kebabs as it has the honour and place of the national idea; it’s prepared with marinated meat.
Then to tickle your taste buds with something hot and spicy there is the Georgian style Solyanka soup, the Khinkali or the dumplings.
Khachapuri or the cheese filled bread of various shapes is a must try for all as the Magnolia cheese balls.
The Brosch where the flavour comes out if it is stale and the delicious Russian crepes called Blini. Never miss out on the incredibly tasty and authentic homemade Suluguni and Adygea cheese.
Then there is Brandy, and you can swear on it worldwide.
Even the popular Oscar club and eatery is noteworthy with the theme of Hollywood and the menu is of the movie star theme.
Eventually at the end of the journey you would have witnessed a unique bond of history, great ideas, sports, its passion, good food and very enriching memories.
This place has it all, only you have to discover it.
The exclusive amalgamation of history and sports brings this city alive and the long lost dream of Putin comes into life and charges up the air to breathe in and soak you in Adler.
Adler cannot be explored when you are protected.
You have to bear your heart to this city to feel what Putin felt.
On the global map, this city may be just a spot but to look at it internally, you would know how vast this is. Plan your vacation now! It is absolutely worth it!