Sochi is the venue for 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. A City in Russia, Sochi is well connected by all means of transport. Below are some tips on how to reach Sochi and other important instructions for attending Olympic Games
Transport
The fastest way to get to Sochi is by plane. Sochi has direct air connections with many cities in Russia, such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Yakutsk, Ufa, Arkhangelsk, and Krasnodar. There are also regular international flights to Sochi.
Sochi 2014 Olympic Games Village
Sochi 2014 General Partner Russian Railways provides train services to Sochi. The average journey time by train between Moscow and Sochi is 24 to 30 hours. For travel information, ticket prices and train timetables, please check the Russian Railways website.
Sochi has direct sea connections with Novorossiysk and the port of Trabzon, Turkey. Travel time from Novorossiysk is 3 hours 30 minutes. From the port of Trabzon, travel takes from 4.5 to 12 hours, depending on the type of boat selected.
The city of Sochi is served by numerous Russian and international airlines and regular train connections, as well as by boat – more information is available at www.sochi2014.com or from your travel agent. During the Games, special spectator transport will circulate between the sports venues and the main areas of the city of Sochi, and is free-of-charge for fans with Olympic tickets on the day. The network includes rail and bus routes, as well as a cable car system.
Applying for a visa
From December 1 2013, a simplified system for issuing visas to foreign tourists arriving for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi has been introduced. Visa requests will be accepted through “Olympic windows” in Russian consular headquarters around the world. A Russian visa may also be applied for without having to wait in the main line and without having to provide verification of hotel arrangements. Visa applications will be reviewed as quickly as possible.
When applying for visas, foreign spectators should confirm that they plan on attending sporting events and/or the Games ceremonies. To do this, they must present a ticket for a sporting event or electronic confirmation (email) of a ticket purchase issued by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee or an Authorized Ticket Reseller, or a Spectator Pass.
Accommodation
To choose the best location for your hotel and get the standard of accommodations you are accustomed to, make sure you plan your accommodation and book a hotel in advance.
Fans looking for accommodation during the Games should look no further than the “accommodation†section of the official Sochi 2014 website, which provides information and links about how to find out about comfortable and fairly priced international standard accommodation in Sochi. Hotel prices have been regulated by the Russian Government and guests can expect to pay prices that correspond to European standards. For example, the price of a standard room in a three-star hotel will be on average a little over 100 US dollars and the maximum price level will be set at 176 US dollars. Accommodation options are also available through major travel companies.
Meals
Sochi boasts a well-developed tourist infrastructure. Restaurants in Sochi demonstrate Russian hospitality and flavors. In many cafés vegetarian and faith-based diets are available. Information about the infrastructure in Sochi (food, entertainment, walking tours) is available at the hotel where you are staying in Sochi and from tour operators.
Generous, tasty and diverse dishes featuring worldwide cuisines will entice the Games’ guests, as well as Russian traditional tea from a samovar together with blini (Russian pancakes), baranki (Russian bagels), pies and, of course, famous Caucasian shashlyk.
Spectator Pass
Once you have purchased your tickets, don’t forget that all visitors will require a Spectator Pass to visit the Games in Sochi. One Pass will be valid for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Further information on the procedure to receive a Spectator Pass and the addresses of Spectator Pass Registration Centers is available on the website pass.sochi2014.com.
A Spectator Pass and a ticket are required to attend competitions, as well as to access the Olympic Park. The pass will undoubtedly also be a unique souvenir of the time spent at the Games in Sochi.