Rospotrebnadzor recognized Anapa beaches as temporarily unsuitable for swimming due to a fuel oil spill in the Kerch Strait. But hotels with pools and water parks, guided tours to wineries, jeep tours and much more are still available. We have collected 12 ideas of what to do and what to see in the sunny city.
Content
- How to get there
- Wineries
- Cypress Lake
- Entertainment with children
- Lotus Valley
- Gorgippia Museum
- Utrish Nature Reserve
- Jeep tours
- Rest in spa hotels
How to get there
You can fly to Sochi and then transfer to the Lastochka high-speed train. The ride will take 8-9 hours, tickets currently cost about 1,000 rubles. The second option is to take a train straight to Anapa. Tickets from Moscow will cost 5,000 rubles, and the journey will take about a day.
For motorists, there is an option to drive through Krasnodar on a well-maintained road.
You can fly to Sochi and then transfer to the Lastochka high-speed train. Photo: alenvl/Shutterstock.com
Wineries
“Gai-Kodzor”
Start your vacation in a picturesque place — at one of the many wineries in these parts. For example, at the fashionable and photogenic Gay Kodzor: in 2021, she entered the top 100 best in the world. Just a 10—minute drive from the city – and you’re near a minimalistic space (aesthetes will be pleased), where you can get along with the tour. The price for it starts from 700 rubles for 1.5 hours, but book seats in advance during the season.
If you don’t make it, it doesn’t matter: the store at the winery will impress you no less. On the territory next to it, you can see vineyards and a beautiful park, as if descended from paintings by Claude Monet. And it’s not even tasting yet!
Start your vacation in a picturesque place — at one of the many wineries in these parts. Photo: Irina Solonina/Shutterstock.com
Not everyone knows this: facts about Gai Kodzor
- Gai Kodzor means “Armenian gorge” in Russian.
- The village was founded more than a century ago by immigrants from Armenia.
- Armenian customs are still respected in the village: to invite neighbors (usually 200-300 people) to the wedding, not to abandon the elderly, and to remain industrious.
“Rocky Shore”
The Rocky Coast winery is located 7 kilometers from Anapa. It is good because it uses a gravitational approach to winemaking — the rejection of mechanical pumping of wine in favor of natural movement under the influence of gravity. This preserves the natural taste of the wine and provides other benefits that you will be told about on the tour. Prices for it start from 2500 rubles.
The Rocky Coast winery is located 7 kilometers from Anapa. Photo: Rocky Coast/Yandex.Maps
“Abrau-Durso”
A picturesque village on the shores of Lake Abrau in the Krasnodar Territory needs no introduction. Fans of good sparkling wine come here, which is produced using technologies similar to those used in France. If you go on an excursion to the winery, you will surely take with you not only a couple of bottles of excellent wine, but also new words: cuvee, remuage and degorgage.
But the trip to Abrau-Durso is not limited to this. Picnics with fresh strawberries, photo shoots against the background of vineyards, sailing on a yacht or trekking routes from 4 to 15 kilometers long — everyone will find activity to their liking here. We talked about it in great detail here.
Picturesque village on the shores of Lake Abrau Photo: WR studio/Shutterstock.com
Cypress Lake
If you Google “Anapa cypress lake”, you will see dozens of photos with unusual trees sticking right out of the water. This is exactly the case when everything in life looks like it does in photographs (and sometimes even better), so plan a trip to the southern part of Greater Anapa — to the village of Sukko, where this lake is located.
It became famous not only because of the trees themselves, but also because of its history. In 1934-1935, an experiment was conducted here, planting 32 swamp cypresses, which successfully took root and grew. The cypress grove near the lake is listed in the Red Book as a unique natural phenomenon. However, in recent years, the trees have been threatened with extinction due to the hot summer and an increase in the flow of tourists who can walk on the roots, which is absolutely impossible.
- 10 picturesque places of the Krasnodar Territory
If you Google “Anapa cypress lake”, you will see dozens of photos with unusual trees sticking straight out of the water. Photo: Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock.com
If you still want the sea
We have compiled a map of safe beaches on the coast of the Black and Azov Seas.
Entertainment with children
Water parks
The most popular water parks are Golden Beach, located in the city center, Tiki-Tak in the village of Dzhemete (it is about to open) and Olympia in the village of Vityazevo. They work from June to the end of September. There are play areas and various slides for young children, while teenagers will enjoy exciting attractions such as the Black Hole and Kamikaze. A wave pool is available for adults, where you can relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the sea. Entrance fee starts from 1200 rubles.
Sunny Island Amusement Park
Here you and your children can ride the carousels and Ferris wheel, look into the “Labyrinth of Fear” and have fun on the trampoline. Photo: “Sunny Island”
Aquarium
Another fascinating idea for leisure will be a visit to the aquarium “Reef”.
Who’s not here? Crabs, shrimps, corals, bizarre algae and even small sharks. They offer to participate in feeding marine life or attend a master class. And if you take a child with you, then you can’t do it without a guide.No problem: there will be a lot of questions about who is swimming. Entrance to the aquarium costs 800 rubles.
- Instructions on how to travel with children: tips from moms and dads
Lotus Valley
The location is just 50 kilometers from Anapa on the picturesque Taman Peninsula. Photo: Neznakomtseva Olga/Shutterstock.com
Where are the lotuses near Anapa
The history of the appearance of lotuses in this area began in the middle of the 20th century, when scientists decided to experiment with breeding Indian lotuses in a freshwater bay. Initially, they did not take root, but later unexpectedly formed an entire plantation — it quickly gained the status of a local landmark. The largest number of tourists come here from mid-July to the end of August, when the lotuses fill the reservoirs with their amazing beauty.
Gorgippia Museum
The ancient city of Gorgippia was located on the site of modern Anapa in the 6th century BC. Today it is an archaeological museum, as well as the only open-air excavation museum in Russia, on the territory of which you will see fragments of buildings, paved streets, as well as the remains of a fortress wall — everything that gives an idea of the scale and significance of an ancient civilization.
Gorgippia was a developed city for its time: there were systems of drains and water pipes. There were workshops and shops in the houses. The locals earned their living by winemaking. You will be able to find out more details on the tour.: The guides tell you in detail about the exhibits and artifacts of the museum.
The Gorgippia can be visited every day from 10:00 to 19:00, except on Fridays, when the museum is open until 18:00. The entrance fee is 300 rubles.
The ancient city of Gorgippia was located on the site of modern Anapa in the 6th century BC. Photo: Natalia Kirsanova/Shutterstock.com
Utrish Nature Reserve
Juniper, pistachio trees, Crimean pine, oleander and many other plants, including species listed in the Red Book, can be found on the territory of the reserve. Rare birds and insects live here, and the Utrish is also a key habitat for the Nikolsky land turtle.
Hiking trails have been developed for visitors to the reserve, guided tours and ornithological tours are organized. Camping areas are also provided if you plan to stay for a few days. To enter the territory of Utrisha, you must first issue a permit — all the details can be found on the official website.
How to get to the reserve:
- From the center of Anapa, take the road towards the village of Vityazevo and continue along the A146 highway in the direction of Novorossiysk. Follow the signs to Utrish and in 30-40 minutes you will reach the nature reserve.
- There is a permanent bus service between Anapa and the village of Utrish — bus 109. The journey time will be 40-60 minutes.
- Another option is to call a taxi via mobile apps or call local taxi services. This is a convenient way, especially if you are traveling with children or with a lot of luggage.
- 10 nature reserves and national parks in Russia that everyone should visit
Juniper, pistachio trees, Crimean pine, oleander and many other plants can be found on the territory of the reserve. Photo: Zotto/Shutterstock.com
Jeep tours
This is really a great opportunity to explore the city’s surroundings and their challenging off-road routes. Jeep tours usually include visits to places such as Lotus Valley, Cypress Lake, Bolshoy Utrish Nature Reserve, and other locations. The experience itself will be interesting, as well — traversing the route over rough terrain, mountain climbs, and crossing streams and rivers. Some tours may include fishing or picnicking in nature. You can find a suitable option at any local travel agency.
Rest in spa hotels
The air in Anapa is saturated with oxygen, ozone and sea salts. So even without swimming in the sea, you will get an anti-stress effect. Moreover, the city offers a lot of cool hotels with pools and an all-inclusive system, the demand for which has not decreased in the run-up to the hot season.
Your vacation will be even more enjoyable with discounts on the GURU Island loyalty program: savings can be up to 40%.
Movenpick Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon
The hotel is located in a green area 600 meters from its own sandy beach and operates according to the ultra all inclusive system. Pay attention to the outdoor pools, the Residence SPA thermal complex, recreation areas for adults, and sports fields. Room per day — from 20 230 rubles.
Movenpick Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon.
“Mira Family Resort & Spa Anapa”
Excellent resort in Vityazevo on the second line. Among the main advantages: a beautiful large territory, spacious swimming pools, baths, hammams, fresh fruits. Rooms — from 20,000 rubles per day.
MOREA Family Resort&Spa All inclusive
Everything you need for relaxation is available here: water park, swimming pool, fitness center, children’s playroom, restaurant. The room rate is 9 491 rubles per day.
MOREA Family Resort&Spa All inclusive.
Alean Family Riviera
Excellent “four”, a family resort with an area of 40,000 square meters, 4 km from the city center. Entertainment complexes are located nearby: the Nemo Aquarium, the dolphinarium and the Tiki-Tak water park. Starting from 16,303 rubles per day.
Fnf Luxury Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon
The three-storey spa complex offers 2 sensory rooms with sun beds, 6 types of steam rooms, pools with a heated outflow bowl and a Jacuzzi overlooking the sea. The cost starts from 17,700 rubles per day.
Fnf Luxury Resort & SPA Anapa Miracleon.
It seems like a vacation in Anapa can be great without diving into sea water. The main thing is to keep a list of attractions on the map and, of course, find your dream hotel on the Island. It’s already interesting what you will choose from almost 3,000 accommodation options. We are waiting for your impressions or at least the message “I won’t tell anyone, but there will be signs.”
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Cover photo: HannaTor/Shutterstock.com
