The first written record of Sochi goes back to 1641 and belongs to Turkish commander and traveler Evliya Celebi. However people came to this land between 350,000 to 400,000 years ago. Sochi became a Russian city only in the 19th century following a Russo-Turkish War.

In 2007 it was chosen to host the 2014 Olympic Games. For this landmark event, hundreds of kilometers of roads, railway stations, an airport, several concert venues, museums and dozens of hotels were either built or renovated.

1. ©Sputnik/Mihail Mokrushin/View of the art museum in Sochi
2. ©Sputnik/Mihail Mokrushin/View of the St. Michael's Cathedral in Sochi
3. ©Sputnik/Mihail Mokrushin/View of the hotel complex of the Rosa Khutor ski resort

Sochi is a year-round holiday destination; feel like going hiking in the mountains or going rafting? Or would you like to go snowboarding? If you like snowboarding, you can be delivered by helicopter and board down the virgin snow from mountain peaks.

By the way, the mountains are just an hour's drive away from Sochi's beaches. Due to their special structure, the ridges of the Caucasus Mountains block the path of the the streams of warm and moist air coming from the sea.

Sochi is the longest city in Russia (145 kilometers), and the second longest in the world behind Mexico City.

Ancient holy sites, stone dolmens and 310 hectares of relict groves of yews and boxwoods, Stalin's summer home, the ultra-modern Rosa Khutor ski resort – you can find all this and many other things in Sochi.

Particular attention should be given to the famous Sochi arboretum. Here one can find over 1,800 exotic plants from all over the world, and rare species of animals and birds as well. Those who decide to take a trip on a cable car will be able to enjoy picturesque views of the mountains and the sea from the top of the arboretum.

1. ©Sputnik/Michael Mordasov/The main entrance (Rotunda) to the Sochi Arboretum, where over 1,500 species, forms and varieties of trees and shrubs can be found
2. ©Sputnik/Michael Mordasov/The Mauritanian gazebo in the Sochi Arboretum, where over 1,500 species, forms and varieties of trees and shrubs can be found
3. ©Sputnik/Nina Zotina/A pelican in the Arboretum Park in Sochi
4. ©Sputnik/Nina Zotina/The Chinese Patio in the Arboretum Park in Sochi
5. ©Sputnik/Nina Zotina/Black swans in the Arboretum Park in Sochi
6. ©Sputnik/Mihail Mokrushin/A white hedgehog, the new resident of the Arboretum Park's exotarium in Sochi

Thanks to the Olympics, Sochi has become one of Russia's main sports grounds. A large number of stadiums in Sochi have unique designs and construction characteristics that allow them to transform in order to host different kinds of sporting events. A great range of sports competitions can be held in Sochi – from hockey and curling to show jumping and Formula One racing.

The Fisht Stadium, the main and the largest stadium in Sochi, and host to the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches, was built for the 2014 Winter Olympics. This stadium hosted both the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies.

1. ©Sputnik/Konstantin Chalabov/Fisht Stadium in Sochi
2. ©Sputnik/Anton Denisov/Zabivaka, the official mascot of the 2018 FIFA World Cup
3. ©Sputnik/Nina Zotina/Fisht Stadium in Sochi

After the Olympics, the arena was reconstructed so that it could host football matches. Currently the stadium's maximum capacity is 45,000 seats, including 5,000 additional mobile seats. In the summer of 2017, the stadium hosted three group stage matches and the semi-final of the Confederations Cup.

In 2018, the Fisht Stadium will host four group stage matches (on June 15, 18, 23 and 26), as well as two play-off matches – the round of 16 (on June 30) and the final eight (on July 7).

In 2018, a festival for football fans will be held on Sochi's famous boardwalk as well.

By plane: Sochi International Airport is located 30 kilometers from the city. It serves 60 domestic and foreign destinations. The average flight time from Moscow is 2 hours and 20 minutes.

By train: two to four trains leave from Moscow's Kazansky and Kursky railway stations every day.

By bus: travel time from Moscow is 32 hours.