Tourist traps in Sochi or what not to visit

Among the huge variety and number of attractions in Sochi, there are many traditional tourist traps aimed solely at luring money from tourists, or not worth the effort to visit them. Moreover, such tourist traps are also found among the top attractions, which include in their lists of must-visit places all sorts of pseudo-guides on the Internet out of ignorance, or simply because of rewriting articles from each other.

We reveal to you the list of tourist traps in Sochi, the visit of which should be avoided:

Super cheap excursions

To fall into the tourist trap, you just need to buy a "super cheap" tour from distributors on the streets of Sochi resorts. For example, in Adler you can buy a bus tour to Krasnaya Polyana even for 300 rubles, while in the neighboring point of sale its cost will be at least 600 rubles. The problem is that during such excursions you will be taken to all sorts of cafes, farms, apiaries, etc., which will be passed off as attractions, but in fact such places work to pump money out of tourists. There is nothing wrong and illegal in this, it's just business, but instead of exploring the sights during the tour, you will simply spend precious time on vacation on useless trade. To avoid this, do not" be led "on unnecessarily cheap excursions, and carefully check and clarify the tour program.

Ruins of a Byzantine temple or Luo temple

This is the only historical landmark in Loo, a monument of federal significance. But objectively, the ruins of the temple are not particularly interesting, and you will spend no more than 5 minutes here, having previously paid 200 rubles for admission. Learn more about the Byzantine temple in Loo here.

Chvizeps mineral spring

This narzan mineral spring is the only one in Sochi, the water of which is officially recognized as therapeutic, and as stated by the guides, has a "rejuvenating effect". You can drink water from a cup and even pick it up with you. But for this you will have to pay no less than 200 rubles, since it is located on the territory of the Sochi National Park. Moreover, on the territory of the reserve you will enter only a couple of meters deep. Visiting Chvizeps is included in a large number of inexpensive excursions from the resorts of Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana, but, of course, you will have to pay extra for admission to it. Therefore, instead of a paid pump room, we advise you to visit the free source Chvizhepse, which is 1.3 kilometers away. Learn more about the mineral spring Chvizhepse and bear corner here.

Tower on Mount Akhun

Mount Akhun is one of the most famous sights of Sochi, where even large buses with excursions are carried. The culmination of such an excursion will be a climb to the observation deck on the Akhun Tower with a height of 30.5 meters, for which you will have to pay 200 rubles, which is quite a lot for a few minutes of views of the coast and a couple of selfies. In the end, you can visit Mount Akhun without climbing this tower, and it is even more interesting to make an easy hiking route to the top completely on foot. Learn more about Mount Akhun and how to visit it here.

Tickets to the Olympic Park and Singing Fountain Show

The Olympic Park, where you can get acquainted with the objects built for the Olympic Games and watch the amazing beauty of the Singing Fountain Show in the evening, is without a doubt one of the must – visit places in Sochi. Visiting the park and fountains is completely free, but some organizers and sellers of excursions lure to themselves by the fact that their tour already includes tickets to the park and to the show. Remember! There are no tickets for the entrance to the Olympic Park and The Singing Fountain Show. Learn more about the Olympic Park and how to visit it here.