To relax on the warm coast in the summer, you don’t have to go to tropical countries. Russia has enough good beaches, and many of them can compete with foreign resorts. Some have well-developed infrastructure, others are surrounded by pristine nature or are marked with a “blue flag”. We have collected the 10 best beaches in Russia from the Baltic coast in the Kaliningrad region to the Sea of Japan on Sakhalin.
Velvet Seasons Beach in Adler, Krasnodar Territory
It is located in the area of Imereti Bay almost on the border with Abkhazia. This is the southernmost point on the Black Sea coast of Russia. The beach with large pebbles and clear sea is marked with the international standard of quality and safety – the Blue Flag. There is excellent infrastructure: sun loungers, bungalows, swings, an aerarium (a special area for taking air baths), sun canopies, wooden decking, massage rooms, children’s slides and a lot of water activities.
Unlike other beaches in the Imereti Lowland, there is a fairly wide coastal strip – from 40 to 60 m – there is no feeling that everyone is resting on each other’s heads. And there is no railway nearby or underground passages, like on the beaches of Adler. Along the coastline there is an embankment and a modern bike path with gorgeous views of the sea and the surrounding Caucasus Mountains. Entrance to the beach is free.
How to get there: by direct flight from Moscow to Adler in 3.5 hours or by train in 1.5 days. From the airport to the beach it takes 20 minutes by taxi.
Where to stay:
- In the three-star hotel “Gamma Sirius” (rating 9.0) – from 12,500 rubles* per day.
- In the three-star hotel “Velvet Seasons Ekaterininsky Kvartal” (rating 8.8) – from 25,000 rubles* per night.
- At the four-star Sport inn hotel & wellness (score 9.9) – from 26,100 rubles* per day.
Riviera Beach in Sochi, Krasnodar Territory
In 2021, Riviera opened after a large-scale reconstruction and became, perhaps, the best beach in Sochi. There is a wide coastal strip, small smooth pebbles, wooden ramps and a clear azure sea. The Blue Flag beach is located in the very center of the city near the Riviera Park and entry is free. Sun beds and bungalows are paid additionally.
There is plenty of entertainment here: a children’s playground, a fitness area, aerariums, bars, a rope park, an amphitheater and recreation areas in a park with exotic plants. During the season there is free animation for adults and children: yoga classes, creative master classes and modeling, water aerobics and family exercises. For water activities, they offer jet skiing, water skiing and wakeboarding, or renting a catamaran.
How to get there: by direct flight from Moscow to Sochi in 3.5 hours or by train in 1.5 days. From the airport to the beach it takes about 50 minutes by taxi.
Where to stay:
- In the three-star Hotel Plutus (rating 8.8) – from 5,800 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star Boutique Hotel Portum 1905 (rating 9.2) – from 13,200 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star hotel “Architect” (rating 8.9) – from 24,800 rubles* per day.
Beach of the sanatorium “Krasnaya Talka” in Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region
The beach with small pebbles is located in a cozy bay on Lermontovsky Boulevard and belongs to the sanatorium, but other guests can also relax on it by paying an entrance fee of 800 rubles. The beach has all the infrastructure: rental of umbrellas, sun loungers and indoor bungalows, changing cabins, showers and sun canopies. Children can relax in the special sand area or playground.
From June to September there is animation for adults and children, as well as amateur competitions on the volleyball court. There is a diving club and water attractions on the coast: for example, you can go to sea on a “banana”, “tablet”, or rent a jet ski. Just behind the beach on Lermontovsky Boulevard there are coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores and souvenir shops.
How to get there:Gelendzhik airport is temporarily closed. There is no railway station in the city; the nearest one is in Novorossiysk. Travel time from Moscow will be 22 hours. From Novorossiysk to Gelendzhik 50 minutes by taxi or 1.5 hours by bus.
Where to stay:
- In the four-star sanatorium “Krasnaya Talka” – from 18,500 rubles* per night.
- In the three-star hotel “Gelendzhik” (rating 8.2) – from 24,000 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star hotel “Atmosphere” (rating 8.3) – from 54,000 rubles* per day.
Beaches of the village of Dzhemete, Krasnodar region
Anapa and nearby villages are famous for the best sandy beaches in Kuban. But if in the summer it can be difficult to find a free place in the city to sunbathe on the coast, then in neighboring Dzhemet there are fewer tourists, and the beaches here are wider.
Under your feet there is only soft light sand without any admixture of sharp shells, a smooth entry into the water and shallow sea. The last point is important – sometimes you need to walk several tens of meters to feel the depth. But for families with small children it is ideal. The beaches in Dzhemet are famous for their high sand dunes, along which tourists are taken for rides on ATVs.
How to get there: Anapa airport is temporarily closed. From Moscow by train it takes from 22 hours.
Where to stay:
- In the four-star hotel “Del Mar” (rating 9) – from 13,500 rubles* per night.
- At the Barkhat Hotel (rating 9.7) – from 13,500 rubles* per night.
- At the Brass Family Hotel (rating 8.7) – from 20,700 rubles* per night.
Dolgaya Spit in the village of Dolzhanskaya, Krasnodar Territory
11-kilometer triangle of sand spit in the village of Dolzhanskaya separates the Sea of Azov and the Taganrog Bay. On the sea side, the water is warmer, but there are often waves, and surfers take advantage of this. In the village there is a windsurfing center with equipment rental – one of the largest in Russia.
The beach has sand mixed with small shells and a gentle entrance to the water. There are also beautiful sunsets here and several times fewer tourists than on the Black Sea coast, so taking a photo alone with the sea will not be a problem. There is practically no infrastructure on the beach, and many tourists prefer to come here to swim from neighboring Yeysk.
How to get there: The airport in Yeysk is temporarily closed. From Moscow you can get there by bus in 20 hours or by direct train, the journey takes from 30 hours. From Yeysk to Dolzhanskaya 40 minutes by taxi or 1.5 hours by bus.
Where to stay:
- In the three-star hotel “Bristol” (rating 8.4) – from 4,300 rubles* per night.
- In the mini-hotel “Brazil” (rating 7.4) – from 5,400 rubles* per day.
- At the LeSHinn mini-hotel – from 7,000 rubles* per night.
Jami Beach in the village of Turali, Dagestan
City beaches in Makhachkala and Kaspiysk cannot yet boast of excellent infrastructure. But between these resorts there is one of the most comfortable beaches of the Republic on the Caspian coast – “Jami”. It belongs to the hotel complex of the same name, and they always strictly monitor the cleanliness and safety of guests. Admission fee: 500 rubles.
The beach has sun loungers, umbrellas, showers, changing cabins, jet ski rentals, cafes, water activities and beach volleyball courts. The beach has soft sand, the sea is shallow and ideal for families with children.
How to get there: by direct flight from Moscow to Makhachkala in 3 hours. From there it takes about 25 minutes by taxi to the beach.
Where to stay:
- At the Metropol Hotel – from 7,500 rubles* per night.
- At the Dibhotel and SPA – from 8,900 rubles* per night.
- At the Redsan Hotel – from 12,000 rubles* per night.
Beaches of the village of Yantarny, Kaliningrad region
In Yantarny, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, there are two beaches at once, which are marked with a “blue flag” – “Shakhta Anna” and “Central”. Both have long and wide beaches, clean, fine white sand, wooden paths and decking. The Central Beach has better infrastructure: umbrellas, sun loungers, entertainment and changing cabins. There are few noisy traders here, but if you come across them, they offer oysters, not boiled corn. Entrance to the beaches is free.
How to get there: by plane to Kaliningrad, the journey takes 2 hours. From there it takes about 50 minutes by taxi to Yantarny or 1.5 hours by bus.
Where to stay:
- At the recreation center “Pearl” – from 3,700 rubles* per night.
- At the Anna mini-hotel (rating 8.3) – from 4,900 rubles* per night.
- In the three-star hotel “Becker” (rating 8.8) – from 14,400 rubles* per night.
Saraisky beach on Olkhon island, Irkutsk region
The three-kilometer beach is located next to the main tourist center of the island, the village of Khuzhir. People come here for the picturesque Baikal nature, because the beach is surrounded by a pine forest, and gray mountains are visible on the opposite side of the lake. On the left side of the Sarai beach spit on Cape Burkhan one admires the Shamanka rock – the main sacred symbol of Baikal.
Parallel to the beach there is an equipped path with wooden decks, gazebos, swings and information stands telling about the flora and fauna of the Pribaikalsky National Park.
How to get there: You can fly from Moscow to Irkutsk on a direct flight in 5.5 hours. From there it takes about 6 hours by bus to Khuzhir, including the ferry crossing.
Where to stay:
- In the two-star Olkhon campsite (rating 7.5) – from 4,900 rubles* per night.
- In the mini-hotel “Star of the Nomad” (rating 7.5) – from 12,800 rubles* per night.
- In the three-star hotel Villa Malina (rating 8.4) – from 17,600 rubles* per room.
Shamora Beach in Lazurnaya Bay, Primorsky Territory
The beach with a wide coastline and fine sand is located in the bay of the Ussuri Bay. Despite the fact that the Sea of Japan cannot boast of a long swimming season, in July and August there are many vacationers – the water near the shore warms up to +20…+22 ℃. On the coast there are cozy restaurants and cafes where you can try Far Eastern cuisine and fresh seafood.
How to get there: You can fly from Moscow to Vladivostok by direct flight in 8 hours. From there it takes 40 minutes by taxi to Lazurnaya Bay.
Where to stay:
- In the two-star healthy recreation center “Pearl” (rating 7.2) – from 6,200 rubles* per night.
- In the guest house “Zvezdochka” – from 8,000 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star AZIMUT City Hotel Vladivostok – (score 9.5) from 11,000 rubles* per night.
Tikhaya Bay, Sakhalin Island
One of the most beautiful beaches on Sakhalin with dark volcanic sand. Some people come here for a relaxing holiday surrounded by pristine nature: emerald green rocks, endless sea surface, the sound of the surf and flying seagulls in the sky. Others go to Tikhaya Bay to go surfing, because the wave season here lasts from late spring to November.
The beach is clean, beautiful and secluded. If the weather is warm, you can swim in the Sea of Okhotsk from July to mid-September. Anyone who decides to spend a beach holiday on the easternmost island of Russia will be rewarded not only with breathtaking scenery, but also with affordable seafood. Every day you can taste new delicacies – crabs, oysters, shrimp, red caviar or salmon.
How to get there: You can fly from Moscow to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by direct flight in 8 hours. From there there is a train in the direction of Poronaysk to the Tikhaya station, the journey takes about 2.5 hours.
Where to stay:
- In the mini-hotel “Islander” (rating 9.2) – from 1,800 rubles* per night.
- In the four-star Mega Palace Hotel (rating 9.7) – from 6,700 rubles* per night.
- In the three-star Lenina Hotel (rating 8.4) – from 8,200 rubles* per night.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
