Since time immemorial, there has been a dispute between the two southern regions, Crimea and Sochi, which resorts are better. In recent years, they have another competitor, which is quiet and quiet, but finds its tourists, offering quite comfortable rest, cozy beaches, monuments of ancient history, beautiful mountain landscapes with lush vegetation. Now Russians who are going on vacation are trying to figure out which is better - Sochi or Abkhazia. We will try to find the answer by evaluating the location, beaches, leisure options, excursions and entertainment.
Sochi or Abkhazia - who has an advantageous location?
The city of Sochi is called one of the longest in Russia, it stretches along the coast for 17 kilometers, together with other resorts it forms Greater Sochi, one of the main resort regions of the country. The city is located in a beautiful place, between the coast and the Caucasus Mountains.
This resort has undergone significant changes in connection with the 2012 Winter Olympics. This influenced all aspects of the city's life, good wide roads, many hotels, representatives of world chains, various entertainment complexes, sports facilities appeared here.
Abkhazia in the Soviet years was one of the best resorts in the Soviet Union, then, due to hostilities, it fell out of sight of a tourist for a long time. Today, the tiny country is again trying to enter the tourism business, offering pristine beaches, cozy hotels, very picturesque landscapes, and affordable prices for vacations.
Beaches and Beach Activities
In Sochi, you need to be ready to relax only on pebble beaches, its size varies from small to the size of a hen's egg. On the one hand, sunbathing on such a surface is not very convenient, you have to use sun loungers and sun loungers. On the other hand, pebbles are considered more hygienic, they do not stick to the body like sand.
Sochi beaches are divided into public, closed and "wild", the first crowded, but they have a full set of entertainment. Closed ones belong to various hotels and boarding houses, they are landscaped, available for a fee. "Wild" beaches delight with picturesque landscapes and a complete lack of amenities.
It is interesting that Abkhazia, located to the south, can offer its guests both sandy and pebble beaches. In Gagra, the pebbles are very small, turning into sand, oleanders and evergreen palms grow around the beaches, in Pitsunda relict pines and boxwoods create beautiful scenery for a beach holiday.
Entertainment and attractions
In this regard, the resorts of Greater Sochi and the city itself offer tourists much more than neighboring Abkhazia. Firstly, there are various sports facilities, centers and grounds, there is an opportunity to engage in various game sports, diving. Secondly, a lot of entertainment complexes, aimed at children and youth, and many water parks have appeared in the city.
The most famous place of entertainment is Sochi-Park, where there are attractions for both children and adults, the second place is at Luna-Park, which has a good race track and its own children's railway. You can get acquainted with the living world of the Black Sea in one of the two aquariums, visit the Sochi Arboretum, the fabulous "Berendeevo kingdom". Ecological excursions to the mountains, to Krasnaya Polyana, to waterfalls, caves and simply beautiful places are possible.
Abkhazia is much more modest in its offers for tourists, the main attractions are natural. Many tourists dream about amazing landscapes, crystal clear water bodies, virgin forests, mysterious karst caves, majestic Pitsunda pines and the most famous Lake Ritsa.
Of the historical sights, the cave complex and the monastery, which are located in New Athos, are attracted. There are monuments dating back to the Meso- and Paleolithic period, antiquity, the Middle Ages, which are located in the vicinity of various cities of Abkhazia.
Comparing the resorts of Sochi and Abkhazia, you understand that they are united by a geographical location, one climatic zone, similar landscapes and rich vegetation. And yet you can find differences, so Sochi resorts are suitable for travelers who:
- dream of a luxurious and respectable vacation;
- love five-star hotels;
- respect for active sports;
- love shopping and entertainment;
- prefer mountainous landscapes to plains.
Abkhazia is the most suitable vacation spot for tourists who:
- looking for a quiet place to stay;
- adore picturesque mountain landscapes;
- love cleanliness, comfort and small beaches;
- respect for delicious grape wine;
- dream of seeing archaeological sites that have survived since the Mesolithic times.
Which resort a particular tourist chooses depends solely on himself, his desires, interests, financial capabilities. He will not be disappointed, that's for sure!
