Sochi to host the World Cup 2018

Sochi is a city that has already hosted the Winter Games. Thus, the sports infrastructure is preserved and will be used during the Mundial. However, many sports venues have been reconstructed according to the specific character of football competitions. Let’s take a closer look at the features of Sochi hospitality and start with the schedule of the matches that will be held at Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Game schedule

The next day after the opening ceremony the national team of Portugal will play against the national team of Spain.

Sochi will host two playoff games. These are the round 16 on the 30th of June at 9 p.m. (21.00) and the quarterfinal on the 7th of July at 9 p.m. (21.00).

Fisht Stadium

Fisht is a modern, capacious and high-tech stadium. The capacity is 40,000 spectators, however, it will be temporarily expanded to 48,000 ahead of the World Cup. After the Mundial 2018, according to the “Heritage” (“Наследие”) program, the number of seats will be reduced to 25,000. “Fisht” is a word of Adyghe origin (Adyghe are the indigenous people of these territories). It means “the white head” and coincides with the name of the mountain peak of the Greater Caucasus. That’s no coincidence: the arena looks like the peak of the mountain chain. It also has the sea tunes since from the top the stadium looks like a shell.

Up-to-date technologies and smart systems can completely change the building and create a fantastic and recognizable silhouette. The stadium has four stands — two side stands covered with semi-transparent polycarbonate and two open front stands. It has a capacity of 40,000 spectators for the Olympic games, 45,000 spectators for the competitions of the World Cup 2018 and 25,000 for the competitions of the lower level.

Renovation of the stadium ahead of the World Cup 2018 cost 4 billion roubles. It is situated in the Imereti Lowlands in the urban area of Adler.

How to rent a car in Sochi

During the World Cup 2018, you won’t be allowed to drive personal or rental car without a special pass. Thus, you will have to use public transport. However, everybody knows that to explore the city, you’d better rent a car. That’s why you can rent a car at the airport or railway station.

Car rental Sochi-Adler (“Аренда Авто Сочи-Адлер”) is a major provider of rental cars without a driver. It also provides business class cars with a driver. Corporate clients can rent cars on a long-term basis and at a bargain price. All cars have comprehensive insurance including CDW, TP, TPL, etc. To rent a car, you need a minimum set of documents (your passport and national driving license). The service is available 24/7 and offers affordable prices. Here is the contact number: +7 (8622) 31-11-50. The email address for online booking: [email protected].

Attractions of Sochi

The today’s Sochi is gorgeous. Its picturesque bays are full of world-class hotels, luxury villas line up in row after row along the well-kept embankments, the best restaurants opened the doors to the most sophisticated guests.

Now the city is ready to host a large number of tourists. In this regard, Sochi can stand up only to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan.

Sochi Olympic Park is a territory where the Olympic facilities are based, including Fisht Stadium, the Iceberg Skating Palace, Adler Arena Centre, the Olympic village, etc. During the Olympic Games of 2014, there was a coastal cluster of the Olympic Park (the mountain cluster was based in Krasnaya Polyana). You can walk and cycle throughout the territory of the park. You can take a guided tour to discover more about the sports venues. Sound and light (“vocal”) fountains are also situated on the territory of the Olympic Park.

The Sochi Arboretum is a park area that includes one hundred species of tropical flora and fauna. Here you can admire the Mexican agave, Australian eucalyptus or the Algerian cork tree. The Arboretum has always been a popular walking area. In high season, there’s much fuss due to the influx of tourists. From the observation deck of the park you can have a magnificent view on the mountains and the seashore.

The Riviera Park is a resort park which was founded in the late 19th century by V. A. Khludov. The park is very proud of the pink paths. Different types of roses are planted there. Each time landscape artists come up with new forms and floral arrangements to please the visitors of the park. At all times, the Riviera was considered to be the place for romantic datings and vacation flirting.

Greater Akhun is a small peak (a bittle bit more than 660 meters) three kilometers from the Black Sea coast. There is a tourist trail that leads to the peak.

There is an observation deck on the surface of the mountain. This is a Romanesque tower. The height of this construction is 30 metres. To be precise, Akhun is a mountain chain with groves of relict trees growing on its slopes while its depths are full of caves.

Marine Station was built in the mid-20th century. It is an architectural monument of federal significance. A 71-metre spire adorns the central tower of the station. There are sculptures on the edges that symbolize four seasons. Marine Station is surrounded by a landscape park where stands a fountain with a statue of the goddess navigation. Numerous leisure boats moor at the Marine Station.

The railway station of Sochi is situated in the centre of the city, not far from the beaches and major hotels. The station building was built in the mid-20th century, however, the station itself has been here since 1918. The clock’s dial is encircled by the zodiac signs. This railway station is considered to be one of the most beautiful stations in Russia.

The Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Black Sea Region and known as the main Sochi cathedral. It was built in the second half of the 19th century after the end of the Caucasian War. The cathedral was named after tsarevitch Mikhail, the son of Nicholas I and the emperor’s viceroy in the Caucasus. The construction was impeded due to the start of the Russo-Turkish War. As a result, the cathedral was consecrated only in 1891.

Sochi Oceanarium is the biggest oceanarium in Black Sea Region. It consists of 30 aquariums with sea and freshwater animals. The oceanarium is situated on the territory of the Riviera Park. It has 200 species of fish (more than 4,000 specimen). Here you can see the shows with sharks and other large sea animals. You can also take some diving lessons that lead to professional certification.

There are also many attractions outside of the city, however, in its immediate vicinity you must see dolmens, Matsesta, the Navalishen gorge, Vorontsovsky caves, tea houses in Uch-Dere, a trout farm in Adler,  Agur Waterfalls, 33 waterfalls complex, the Yew-and-Boxwood Tree Grove, Rosa Khutor resort in Krasnaya Polyana, etc.

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