Things to Do in Gelendzhik

Top Things to Do in Gelendzhik

Things to Do in Gelendzhik


Top Attractions in Gelendzhik

These rankings are informed by traveler reviews—we consider the quality, quantity, recency, consistency of reviews, and the number of page views over time.

What travelers are saying

  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    I haven't been there for almost two years. This time around it was early September that I took a walk along that wonderful waterfront again.
    Marvellous! I chose sunset time which is absolutely the best part of the day to admire both the embankment and the nature. Gelendzhik bay sparkles with purple-red, orange and lilac flares falling on the water, the sun slowly disappears in the sea, stars start to sparkle above. And beneath all this there bustle cafes, restaurants and champagne bars, stalls sell whatever stuff one can imagine, laidback idlers saunter to and fro, street musicians massage their instruments.
    There was something new there, however, - I noticed a new monument not far from the Primorye hotel. A Mr Kisel'. Who knows the guy? Well, definitely no-one among rare foreign visitors. Okay, skip it.
    Gelendzhik, dear, you're getting better and better and better. Full speed ahead, buddy!
    Strongly recommended!
    Written November 2, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • John
    Lebanon5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It was the best zoo ever!!in Greece we don't have something familiar and it was perfect experience for us !for sure you have to claim up the mountain by cable car!the best time is sunset of sun!
    Written February 2, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Me and my wife visited that fabulous gallery in September.
    It's pretty far away from the center of Gelendzhik, behind the airport, but what is some thirty minutes' driving for a Muscovite?
    Such galleries are extremely rare for Russia while this one is unique for that town. Its founders and owners - a married couple where Nina is "the Creator" and her husband Vladimir is sort of "chief executive office" responsible for logistics and business maintenance - do more for environment than thousands and thousands of razzle-dazzle (but empty) video commercials. They make pieces of art from trash we human beings throw around so carelessly.
    Vladimir met us like treasured guests, guiding us both inside and outside of their cozy house. What a spell-binding miracle! Nina is a magician, Jesus Christ!
    We bought some of her masterpieces, of course. Now they decorate our flats both in Moscow and in Gelendzhik - bringing back sweet memories.
    These works MUST draw international attention - they ARE sustainability, human responsibility and accountability!
    This is why my review is in English.
    Strongly recommended! Belaya Loshad' means a White Horse in Russian, by the way.
    (Parking may be a real challenge there, especially in high season.)
    Written February 15, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    But this is not the case - the monument was erected in 2010 so the bride is kinda young, just nine years old.
    All joking aside, this sad elegant lady has a reason to be dolorous - before these lands were captured by Russian Empire from Turkey in 1829 there had been a female slave market here. Girls had been sold by highlanders from Caucasia, mostly Chechens, for Turkish harems. Slavic ones had been the most precious - blondes.
    She's called White Bride somewhat inaccuratly. In Turkish "gelincik" means "a bride" when this word is said with endearment and affection (sort of "sweet little bride"). This gave this town's name - and its symbol.
    And "white bride", by the way, is "beyaz gelin" in Turkish.
    Written October 23, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • NVV
    Novorossiysk, Russia3,609 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very nice aquapark - the biggest in Russia! A great number of different activities! If you want to pay reduced price, visit this place in September)
    Written July 14, 2014
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Alexander Mokretsov
    Rawai, Thailand1,683 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Probably the most beautiful place at the Black Sea I have ever seen - absolutely breathtaking place for hiking and sightseeing. Definitely a must visit!
    Written May 10, 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    If you have guts to come there yoiu'll probably won't regret it - if you're Russia's explorer and command at least some Russian.
    Not the worst local lore museum at all. At last they adjusted the exposition for it to more correspond to reality. Before you got an impression that immediately after the ancient Greeks it were communists to come to Gelendzhik and then the town was instantly attacked by the Nazis. This time it's really more reasonable and at least they provide you with some decent information about the times these lands were captured by Russia from the Turks. (It happenned only 190 years ago - just think about it!)
    The entrance is virtually free - RUR 150 per head. So it's up to you to decide.
    Written October 24, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Yelena354
    Brooklyn, NY142 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's small, inside pool, but animals trained well and show is intertaininig. Of course, it's not Sea world in Orlando or Dominican Republic.
    Written September 5, 2016
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    This small lighthouse was built in 1906 and is still working! You can't miss it while taking promenade along the gourgeous Gelendzhik embankment. In WWII, when the Red Army was on the verge of leaving the town an order was given to blow it up but somehow it was not fulfilled, the front line subsequently stabilized and Gelendzhik stayed in Russian hands.
    The buiding needs at least some refurbishment, though. It's even more obvious if one juxtapose it to a nice villa shining in the sun nearby.
    Written October 25, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This creation by a Novorossiysk sculptor appeared here in 2008 and since then has become a Mecca for everyone living in or coming to Gelendzhik. It features characters of the introduction to Pushkin's poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila" every single Russian knows: "There's a green oak-tree by the shores/Of the blue bay; on a gold chain,/The cat, learned in the fable stories,/Walks round the tree in ceaseless strain;/Moves to the right - a song it groans,/Moves to the left - it tells a tale./There're marvels there: the wood-sprite roams,/Midst branches shines the mermaid's tale".
    So the cat is not at all "the Scientist", as this site claims, but the guy "learned in fable stories". As to the statue, this big and wise pet is not walking along the chain either and the latter is not made of gold (fake!). But, first, - who cares? and, then - otherwise everything's correct.
    There are so many waggish stories related to this monument! The most important photographer of Russia made a selfie here (try and guess who he is), students rub the cat's nose and left paw before taking a quiz, some not very sober passers-by strived to kiss the feline on the lips, others climbed the oak-tree to reach the mermaid's ... not tail, some even tried to steal links of the chain (quazi-golden!). Well, welcome to Russia - but local police still keep a watchful eye upon it.
    FUN!!!
    Written October 25, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Takarasina
    2,101 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    My friend, his wife, and their six-year-old daughter came to visit us in July to celebrate his birthday, so my wife and I decided to show them one of the brightest high spots in Gelendzhik.
    I booked an individual guide and a table at that château’s eponymous restaurant a week in advance, and I'd say that the best, so-called sunset time slots for a tour had already been sold out. (Please, bear in mind.)
    Still, we had a wonderful day. First, the tour. Our guide was top-notch. She showed us around their territory and immaculate vineyards, led us to the cliffs with spellbinding views of the Black Sea and great photo ops and drove us in a minibus back to the estate.
    As to the restaurant, we had a special three-course degustation menu as sort of a warm-up (their wines with wisely selected munches), followed by the main part.
    So, we ordered oladyi (small, thick pancakes) made from kefir (a fermented milk drink similar to yoghurt) dough, served with pike and salmon roe; roast beef salad with potatoes baked in wood ash; escargot; two French onion soups; turkey broth; red-lip mullet fillet with estragon-seasoned yolk; smoked beef tongue with chestnut brittle; and a pitcher of lavender lemonade. As to wine, it was a bottle of (local dry) Rkatsiteli Orange by the Perovskiye Estate.
    Both the food and the drinks were excellent, nicely served, and elegantly decorated. There were three (!) waiters working with us, two "usual" ones, and a sommelier. Amazing...
    That was the evening we would remember for years, and though we paid quite a formidable price for it, almost RUR 15,000 (≈ USD 167), we left absolutely lucky.
    A can't miss! An advance reservation is a must.
    Parking alternatives are abundant and free there.
    Written September 19, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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