Russia is washed by 13 seas belonging to three oceans — the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic. The latter is only used by those who like to swim, but we have collected slightly more gentle options for a beach holiday from Kaliningrad to the Far East.
Contents
- Black Sea
- Sea of Azov
- Caspian Sea
- Baltic Sea
- The Sea of Japan
- Sea of Okhotsk
Black Sea
When to go: June–September.
How to get: by train to the desired resort or by plane to Sochi (from 18,000 rubles in both directions from Moscow). Here and further, the ticket price is given as an example and shows the prices for the summer of 2024, available at the time of publication of the article.
The main resorts: Sochi and Adler, Anapa, Gelendzhik, Tuapse.
The warmest sea in the country (the average summer water temperature is +22 °C, but it can rise to +30 °C) does not need special introduction. However, it is worth getting ready for the crowds of tourists, especially in the middle of summer. Most of the Black Sea coast is located in a subtropical zone, which means that cities and towns are surrounded by greenery and flowers.
There are pebble, sandy and mixed beaches in the Krasnodar Territory:
- sand prevails in Anapa, the villages of Vityazevo and Dzhemete, although it can be found all along the coast;
- small pebbles — in Sochi and Adler, Lazarevsky, Tuapse;
- large pebbles — in Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik.
Sandy beaches prevail in Anapa, the villages of Vityazevo and Dzhemete. Photo: kravik93/Shutterstock.com
Various water activities are popular on the Black Sea coast: “cheesecakes”, “bananas”, catamarans, boat trips and even surfing and kitesurfing. Another plus is the proximity of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and the opportunity to go hiking and sightseeing. Well, in the Krasnaya Polyana mountain cluster, you can ride cable cars.
Where to stay on the Black Sea coast
- “Vereshchaginskaya dacha” near Sochi Arboretum and Seaside beach;
- Bulgakov Apart-hotel in Greater Sochi near Stavropol beach;
- Bogatyr near Imereti Bay beach in Adler;
- Radisson Collection Paradise Resort and Spa on the Adler coast with its own beach area;
- Saloon Western in Gelendzhik near the beach “Gardens of the Seas”;
- Primorie Grand Resort Hotel on the first line in Gelendzhik;
- “Leonardo” at Dune beach in Vityazevo.
“Vereshchaginskaya dacha” near Sochi Arboretum and Seaside beach.
Sea of Azov
When to go: May–September.
How to get: the most convenient way to get there is by car. Yeysk can be reached by direct train from Moscow (from 3,800 rubles). The nearest open airport is in Sochi.
The main resorts: Yeysk, Golubitskaya, Taman.
The Sea of Azov, although located near the Black Sea, is not very popular. It’s all about the too shallow entrance and shallow depth (maximum — 14 meters, this is the shallowest sea in the world), which is why it is called “children’s”. But with kids, you can have a great rest here, moreover, without crowds of tourists.
The beaches on the coast of the Sea of Azov are covered with sand, often mixed with small shells. Due to the shallow depth, the water warms up quickly (you can swim already in May), and its temperature in the height of summer reaches + 24-25 ° C.
The beaches on the coast of the Sea of Azov are covered with sand, often mixed with small shells. Photo: HELEN_1/Shutterstock.com
In addition to beach holidays, mud treatment is common on the Azov coast. Most of the sanatoriums are located near Yeysk. People come to Taman and the village of Golubitskaya to look at mud volcanoes and swim in them. There is a famous winery “Fanagoria” in Temryuk, where you can sign up for excursions.
Where to stay on the Sea of Azov
- “My Summer” — stylish boutique hotel in Yeysk;
- LëSHinn near the beach line in Yeysk;
- “7 seas” in the village of Golubitskaya near the coast;
- “Dikanka” with separate houses in Taman.
LëSHinn near the beach line in Yeysk.
Caspian Sea
When to go: June–September.
How to get: by train or plane to Makhachkala (from 18,900 rubles from Moscow in both directions).
The main resorts: Makhachkala, Kaspiysk, Izerbash, Derbent.
In recent years, the Caspian Sea has been gaining popularity, and local resorts are actively being rebuilt. There is not yet a developed infrastructure everywhere. However, this is compensated by the wide and long sandy coast and the complete absence of jellyfish. This is because the Caspian Sea officially belongs to lakes and the water in its northern part is almost fresh. In the height of summer, it warms up to +25-26 °C.
Most of the Caspian resorts are located in Dagestan between Makhachkala and Derbent. However, the only beach between Makhachkala and the Caspian Sea, where the water meets sanitary standards, is located on the territory of the Jami hotel complex. But in Derbent and Izerbash, bathing is officially allowed. They prefer to relax with children on the beaches of Izerbash, where there is a wide beach line (up to 200 meters) and there are no strong waves.
Most of the Caspian resorts are located in Dagestan between Makhachkala and Derbent. Photo: Suleyman Nabiev/Shutterstock.com
To complement a beach holiday in the Caspian Sea, you can take excursions to ancient Dagestan cities (for example, Derbent, which is under UNESCO protection) and trips to mountain attractions — the Sarykum dune and the Sulak Canyon.
Where to stay in the Caspian Sea
- Hotel 115 — a new hotel in the center of Makhachkala;
- “Jami” with its own beach between Makhachkala and the Caspian Sea;
- Ramina Village — a hotel complex in Izberbash with modern bungalows on the first line;
- “Ramina” with outdoor pool and slides in Izberbash;
- Oasis Guest House in Izberbash with access to the beach.
Hotel 115 is a new hotel in the center of Makhachkala.
All the beauties of Dagestan
A vacation on the Caspian Sea in Dagestan will be incomplete without trips to mountain villages, waterfalls, dunes and dunes — look for the full route for a week in this guide.
Baltic Sea
When to go: July–August.
How to get: by plane to Kaliningrad (from 15,700 rubles in both directions from Moscow). By plane or trainto St. Petersburg for a vacation on the Gulf of Finland.
The main resorts:Zelenogradsk, Svetlogorsk, Yantarny in the Kaliningrad region; Komarovo and Solnechnoye in the Resort area of St. Petersburg.
The Baltic Sea is much harsher than the southern ones, so the swimming season here is short — the second half of July and the beginning of August. The water temperature rises to +22°C. But one of the best sandy beaches in the country compensates for this — Yantarny and the Central One in the village of Yantarny have the international quality mark “Blue Flag”. By the way, you can swim here in Sinyavinsky Lake at the site of a flooded amber quarry — the water in it is much warmer.
The Baltic Sea is much harsher than the southern ones, so the swimming season is short here. Photo: Anikin Dmitrii/Shutterstock.com
Which beaches receive the Blue Flag
“Blue Flag” is a prestigious international award for which all the beaches of the world are fighting. Since 1987, it has been awarded only to beaches that meet strict requirements for water purity and shoreline safety. In total, the coast is assessed according to 33 criteria, which includes environmental protection.
There are 35 places in Russia that have been awarded this award. With the exception of the two already mentioned on the Baltic Sea, the rest are located on the Black Sea coast. For example, this is the Seaside beach in Sochi, the central beaches of Lazarevsky and Dagomys and Chaika beach in Adler.
Those who love European urban aesthetics should stay in Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk. And, of course, don’t forget to explore the Curonian Spit, the largest sandy embankment in the world with a unique ecosystem.
As for St. Petersburg, the main beaches in its vicinity are located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. Going here specifically for a beach holiday is a dubious activity, but combining it with a tour of the Northern capital is the best thing! One of the oldest beaches is located in Komarovo (this is where in the famous song by Igor Sklyar it was necessary to go “for a week before the second”), but the most popular — Affectionate — is located in the village of Solnechnoye.
Where to stay in the Baltic
- “Aquamarine Park” near the coast in the village of Yantarny;
- “Madame El” on a quiet street in Svetlogorsk;
- “Princess Eliza” is a mini-hotel in a European antique building in Zelenogradsk;
- “Scandinavia” is one of the most famous resorts in the Resort area of St. Petersburg.
“Madame El” on a quiet street in Svetlogorsk.
The Sea of Japan
When to go: July–September.
How to get there: by plane to Vladivostok (from 24,900 rubles. from Moscow in both directions).
The main resorts: Vladivostok, Nakhodka, Slavyanka.
Holidays on the coast of the Sea of Japan are almost no different from the Black Sea — Sochi and Vladivostok are located at the same latitude. By the end of July, the water here warms up to +25° C. All beaches are sandy. However, there are interesting exceptions — for example, a Glass bay, which is covered with glass beads rolled by sea waves.
The most popular beach, Shamora, is located in the vicinity of Vladivostok. Here you will find a developed infrastructure, a gentle entrance to the water and gorgeous landscapes. Near Nakhodka, you can relax on the beach of the village of Livadia with the warmest water on the coast. Well, the southernmost beaches of the Sea of Japan are located in the village of Slavyanka. However, the infrastructure here is not as developed as in Vladivostok and Nakhodka.
You can diversify your beach holidays in the Far East with sea walks along picturesque bays and islands, as well as a visit to the Land of the Leopard National Park, where the Far Eastern leopard, Amur tiger, lynx and forest cat live. Don’t forget to eat seafood.
The most popular beach — Shamora — is located in the vicinity of Vladivostok. Photo: daryak/Shutterstock.com
What to see in Vladivostok in 3 days
The new mainstream of domestic tourism, the Asian-Russian metropolis on the shores of the Sea of Japan — Vladivostok is worth spending a few days here. It’s easier to do this with the Island guide.
Where to stay on the coast of the Sea of Japan
- City View with view rooms in the center of Vladivostok;
- Apart-hotel Sea view by Vvo apartments — panoramic windows overlooking the bay in Vladivostok;
- The ROYAL PARK Hotel is a complex in the Sovetsky district of Vladivostok with a large park;
- “Aurora Park Hotel” in the same area of the city, among coniferous trees, a 10-minute walk to the sea;
- “Pearl” — hotel on the first line of Shamora beach;
- “Warm the sea” is a large hotel complex in the village of Slavyanka;
- MOREGLAMP is an ultra—modern glamping on Livadia beach in Nakhodka.
Apart-hotel Sea view by Vvo apartments — panoramic windows overlooking the bay in Vladivostok.
Sea of Okhotsk
When to go: August – mid-September.
How to get: by plane to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (from 25,000 rubles in both directions from Moscow).
Main beaches: Aniva and Tikhaya Bay.
Despite the fact that Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk is located at the same latitude as Krasnodar, the Sea of Okhotsk, which surrounds it, is considered the coldest on the Pacific coast of the country. By August, the water here warms up to +18-20 °C. Popular beaches with the warmest water are located in Aniva Bay (40 km from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) and Tikhaya Bay (130 km from the city).
All beaches on Sakhalin are sandy, often covered with dark volcanic sand. Numerous mollusk shells are also found here. That’s because you can catch them with your hands right by the shore, and then cook them over a campfire and eat them here, leaving the shells.
All beaches on Sakhalin are sandy, often covered with dark volcanic sand. Photo: Lidiia Ostrovskaia/Shutterstock.com
It is hardly worth going to Sakhalin just for a beach holiday, so include a cruise on the Kuril Islands, hiking with tents and, of course, diving or fishing in your program.
Where to stay on Sakhalin
- “Yunost” in the very center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
- “White snow” near the main city park of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk;
- Bay House Sakhalin — guest house near Aniva Bay;
- Bear Creek is a recreation center on the shore of the Sea of Okhotsk.
“Youth” in the very center of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.
What if you set out to swim in all Russian seas? Choose a new coast for your next vacation, and the Island will help you with the choice of accommodation.
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Cover Photo: Enlightened Media/Shutterstock.com
