| Sochi Cоячи - Шəэчa | ||
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Coat of arms and flag .svg/59px-Coat_of_Arms_of_Sochi_(Krasnodar_krai).svg.png) .svg/70px-Flag_of_Sochi_(Krasnodar_krai).svg.png){kind=small} | ||
| State | Russia | |
|---|---|---|
| Federated state | Krasnodar Territory | |
| Region | Southern Russia | |
| Altitude | 30 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 3,506 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 343.285 (2010) | |
| Prefix tel | 7 8622 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 354000-354999 | |
| Time zone | UTC 3 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Sochi (or Sochi) is a city of the Southern Russia.
To know
Geographical notes
Located at the foot of the Caucasus, is a few kilometers from major ski resorts. This is also why the city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics.
The very extensive municipality has numerous villages and towns among which the most important are Adler, Loo, Hosta is Krasnaya Polyana.
When to go
The city of Sochi enjoys an almost unique climate in the Russian landscape: the low latitude, the mitigating action of the waters of the Black Sea and the presence, immediately north of the city, of a mountain range that shelters it from the northern currents make winters mild and rainy, with temperatures that do not affect the growth of plants such as tea and grapes. Furthermore, due to the frequent infiltrations of fresh northern air, the summers do not show those drought characteristics typical of Mediterranean summers.
The average temperature is 14 ° C.
Background
In the area there were urban settlements since the times of classical Greece; during the Middle Ages there was also the creation of Genoese colonies ad Adler is Kostha. The Turks conquered the area in the sixteenth century and Islamized the local Circassian population. The Russians founded the present city in the nineteenth century, after bloody wars with the Circassians, and repopulated the area. The development of the city was greatly favored during the years of the Soviet Union.
How to orient yourself
The metropolitan area of Sochi occupies 105 km along the Black Sea coast. Its total area is 3,500 km² (3 times Moscow). However, most of the population develops along the narrow coastal strip, while the mountain area (1,900 km²) belongs mostly to the Sochi National Park and partly al Caucasus Biosphere Nature Reserve. The city develops from the north-west to the south-east, from the neighboring city of Tuapse, right on the Russian border with theAbkhazia.
The Sochi metropolitan area comprises four districts:
The most highly developed, urbanized part of the Sochi metropolitan area is the coastal one between Dagomys (southeast of the Lazarevskoye district) and the flat part of Imereti in the Adler district.
How to get
By plane
- Sochi International Airport (IATA: AER), in the Adler district (The airport is connected to Adler by bus 51, with Sochi from lines 105, and by a railway line and with Krasnaya Polyana from line 135.). Completely refurbished in anticipation of the 2014 Winter Olympics, the airport is regularly connected with Moscow, St.Pietroburgo, Istanbul, Vienna is Tel-Aviv.
By car
The M4 / E115 road connects Sochi with Moscow (1660 km), Voronezh (1150 km), Rostov-on-Don (570 km) and Krasnodar (300 km).
Reaching Sochi by ferry or cruise can be a good opportunity to visit Russia without a visa. Passengers are allowed to stay for 72 hours on Russian soil if they are staying on the cruise ship or in licensed hotels. [1]
On the train
Sochi has two main stations: in the central district and in that of Adler. However, there are intermediate stops such as Lazarevskaya, Loo, Dagomys, Matsesta and Khosta. For information on timetables and prices or to book a ticket, visit the Russian railways website (in English or Russian).
Trains to major cities regularly depart from Sochi stations Russian, Belarusian is Ukrainian:
- International destinations
- Kiev, Ukraine (30 hours)
- Minsk is Homel ', Belarus (34-39 hours)
- Kaliningrad (64 hours, go Vilnius, Lithuania)
- Sukhum, Abkhazia (from Adler station, 5 hours, 200 RUR each way, service active from 1 July 2011)
- National destinations
- Moscow (25-28 hours, high-speed train connections will be built for the Olympics - 15 hours)
- St.Pietroburgo (40-49 hours)
- Chelyabinsk (64 hours)
- Kazan (49 hours)
- Krasnodar (6-7 hours)
- Krasnoyarsk (95 hours)
- Novosibirsk (81 hours)
- Perm (68 hours)
- Rostov-on-Don (14 hours)
- Samara (43 hours)
- Saratov (32 hours)
During the high season (May to September) the number of trains and destinations increases significantly.
By bus
Bus stations are located near the main railway stations (in the central and Adler) .International destinations are:
- Chişinău, Moldova (30 hours, every day except Friday and Sunday)
- Odessa, Ukraine (27 hours, weekly on Sunday)
- Sukhum, Abkhazia (4.5 hours, 3 times a day)
The major Russian destinations are:
- Anapa (10 hours, daily, 400 RUR)
- Astrakhan (26.5 hours, daily, 1300 RUR)
- Krasnodar (8 hours, twice a day, 350 RUR)
- Maykop (8 hours, twice a day, 420 RUR)
- Makhachkala (27 hours, daily)
- Nalchik (17.5 hours, daily)
- Novorossiysk (8.5 hours, daily, 320 RUR)
- Rostov-on-Don (12.5 hours, every other day, 650 RUR)
- Stavropol (14 hours, twice a day, 750 RUR)
How to get around
In the central district of Sochi, the main places of interest are not far from each other, so it is possible to visit the whole area on foot. To move between the various districts it is not advisable to walk both for the long distance and for the high traffic.
The coastal area is often occupied by the railway and the only tree-lined avenues are between Riviera Park and the Dendrarium and in the Olympic Park.You can rent a bike in one of the 30 automatic terminals. The service is free, but a 3,000 RUR deposit is required.
The development of a barrier-free Sochi is underway in preparation for the Paralympic Games to be held immediately after the 2014 Olympics.
By public transport
Unlike other Russian cities of the same size, Sochi does not have a tram or trolleybus network. After the fall ofSoviet Unionin fact, it was operated with small private buses and minibuses. The service is quite frequent and quite inexpensive, which makes it the best way to visit the city.
In conjunction with the Olympics, the buses were equipped with written in the language English and drivers who also speak English.
The main bus or marshrutka (minibus) lines are:
- 3K - from the central bus station a Matsesta
- 12 - from Bytkha to Matsesta
- 17 - from the central bus station in Novaya Zarya
- 22K - from the central bus station a Bytkha
- 36 - from the port of Sochi a Mamayka
- 47K - from the central bus station to Transportnaya street
- 57 - from the station of Adler aImeretinskaya Lowland is Vesyoloe (on the border withAbkhazia)
- 64 - from Mamayka to Kudepsta for the central district, Matsesta is Khosta
- 99 - from Sochi station to Vinogradnaya street
- 105 - from the central bus station via Matsesta, Khosta is Adler toSochi International Airport, after Alpika-Service, in Krasnaya Polyana. The bus 105K stops at the airport.
- 106 - from Sochi station to the Farm Trout Street Sochi International Airport
- 125 - from the central bus station a Imeretinskaya Lowland Street Matsesta, Khosta is Adler
- 130 - from the Adler station to the farm Trout
- 135 - from the Adler market a Krasnaya Polyana
- 155 - from the central bus station a Lazarevskoe away many sub-districts of the Lazarevskoe district (Dagomys, Vardane, Loo, ...)
- 167 - from the central bus station a Adler (market)
Buses from number 1 to 99 have a fixed rate of 9 RUR, the other lines have different rates depending on the distance.
By taxi
As in all of Russia, there are a myriad of taxis in Sochi, but only a minor part of them have a regular license. Often taxi drivers do not speak in English or other foreign languages, so it is best to ask mediators such as hotel reception to book a taxi. Only a few taxis accepting credit and debit cards, so it is advisable to have cash with you.
By car
Driving in the center of Sochi is not recommended as traffic is very chaotic and parking spaces are scarce. However, it is possible to rent a car at:
- Herzt, Sochi International Airport, ☎ 7 (8622) 357 100.
Open every day from 9am to 9pm. - Sixt, Airport and Marins Park Hotel (Morskoy pereulok, 2), ☎ 7 (8622) 96-0020. Open every day from 9am to 9pm.
- Rossa Rent, 1. Zhemchuzhina hotel (Chernomorskaya street, 3 - Center); 2. Airport (only if booked), ☎ 7 (8622) 955-497, 7 8 918 905 59 77.
Open every day from 9am to 9pm.What see
Historical buildings
- Buildings dating back to the Stalin period. In 1934, the construction of many buildings and monuments in the metropolitan area of Sochi was planned. This construction continued until 1953. Among these buildings we remember the station, the port, the winter theater, the art museum and numerous hotels.
- Loo temple (Lazarevskoe district). Dating back to the Byzantine period, in the 15th / 16th century it was converted into a fortress. Today the site is in poor condition.
- Godlik Fortress, Kurskaya street, Chemitokvadzhe - Lazarevskoe district. Remains of a 5th century Byzantine fortress.
- Stalin's summer residence, 120, Kurortny - Khosta District, ☎ 7 (8622) 69 56 00. Stalin's residence, today it contains a museum. According to a legend, the specter of Stalin still roams the residence.
Monuments
- Anchor and Cannon, Pushkinsky park (near Primorskaya). It is the oldest monument in the city, built in 1913: an original cannon from the 19th century and an anchor from the 12th century symbolize the Russian victory in the war against the Ottomans of 1828-1829.
- Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin,, Vinogradnaya, 14 (in the area of the hotel and resort Krashmashevsky). Erected in 2008 by an Israeli sculptor (Frank Meisler), it is the only monument in all of Russia dedicated to anti-fascist trio. Two pairs of the monument were sent to the USA and al UK.
- Feat for Life memorial (Подвиг во имя жизни), Riviersky pereulok (At the entrance to the Riviera park). Monument dedicated to the medical staff who saved over a million lives during the Second World War. The monument consists of a steel arch and marble statues of doctors, nurses and wounded people.
- The singing fountains, Kurortny - central district. Pools with water flows and sounds: the water seems to "sing" and "dance". The monument, initially built in 1970, was completely renovated in 2009. Usually active only on summer evenings.
- Zavokzalny War Memorial (World War II Memorial), under Zavokzalny districts. Built in 1985, on the fortieth anniversary of the victory of the Second World War, it is dedicated to all the soldiers of Sochi who died.
Museums
- Museum of art, Kurortny, 51 - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 62-2947, 7 (8622) 62-2916. The building that houses the museum is one of the most beautiful in the city. The museum boasts the largest collection of art in the entire Black Sea.
- History Museum, Vorovskogo 54/11 - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 64-28-91. The museum was opened in 1920, contains 150,000 exhibits divided into 14 rooms.
- Museum of Sochi Sport Honor, Sovetskaya, 26 - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 64-23-26, 7 (928) 448 90 85 (guided tours). 11.00-21.00. Opened in 2010, it illustrates the history of the Olympics and the organization of the 2014 Olympics.
- A.A.C. Art Gallery of Wood Plastic, 1 Zvezdnaya Street, office 24 - Khosta districts, ☎ 7 (8622) 65-90-08. Open from 10am to 8pm. Museum with over five hundred wood sculptures. The guided tour lasts one hour.
- 1 Sochi Discovery World Aquarium, Lenin 219а / 4 - Adler, ☎ 7 (8622) 46-33-56.
500 RUR. Tuesday-Sunday: 10 am-6pm. One of the largest aquariums in Europe, it contains a wide range of marine and freshwater species. - Aquarium and marine zoo, 4 Cheltenham alley - Khosta district, ☎ 7 (8622) 67-72-26. Adults 300 RUR, children (6-11 years) 100 RUR. Open every day, in summer from 9 to 20, in winter from 10 to 18. Opened in 2005. It is possible to feed animals, such as sharks, penguins and hippos.
- Riviera Park Oceanarium, Yegorova, 1, ☎ 7 (8622) 64-43-43. Adults 300 RUR, children (6-11 years) 200 RUR. summer: 10-24 / winter: 10-21.
- 2 Adler Dolphinarium, Lenin 219а, ☎ 7 (8622) 46-33-03. Summer: Monday-Sunday 11-00, 14-00 and 16-00. Winter Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 15-30. The dolphin exhibits last 50 minutes in a pool 20 meters wide and 6 meters deep. The building can accommodate a thousand spectators.
- Monkey Nursery Center (Обезьяний питомник), Vesyoloe, 1 - Adler district (reachable by bus 134). 200 RUR.
500 RUR. Churches
- 3 Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. Built towards the end of the 19th century
- Church of the Transgiguration, Khosta.
Parks
- 4 Riviera Park, Yegorova, 1 - central district, ☎ 7 (8622) 64-33-77, 7 (8622) 64-08-85. Founded in 1898 and completely renovated around 1998, Riviera park is the largest and most popular park in Sochi.
- 5 Dendrarium (Botanical Garden), 74, Kurortny - Khosta district, ☎ 7 (8622) 62-18-42. 180 RUR. open from 8 to 21. The Dendrarium is the most beautiful botanical garden in the whole Black Sea. Thanks to a chairlift it is possible to admire splendid views.
- Park of Southern Cultures, district of Adler. 150 RUR. The botanical park was opened in 1910 and today contains more than 5,500 different varieties of plants.
Other places of interest
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- Olympic park.
- 6 Sochi International Street Circuit (F1 racetrack). It will host a Formula 1 Grand Prix race from 2014/2015
- 7 Fisht Olympic Stadium. Stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics took place
Events and parties
- Kinotavr (Open Russian Film Festival). June. Born in 1990, it takes place annually. Kinotavr is Russia's largest film festival.
What to do
- (Port of Sochi), ☎ 7 8622 609-603. 300 RUR (2013). 11.00-21.00 from May to October Duration: 1h.
It is also possible to practice sailing and kitesurfing.
Shopping
As in the rest of the Russia, the Russian ruble (RUB) is the only officially traded currency in the city. Exchanging currency is not a problem, but only official counters at banks should be used and avoid strangers offering to exchange at major transport hubs. According to Russian law it is necessary to provide a passport for foreign exchange transactions. The exchange rate (updated to 2011) is around 40 rubles for 1 euro or 28 rubles for 1 dollar.
Sochi has many cash machines (ATMs), mainly in the central district of Sochi and ad Adler. From some ATMs, in addition to rubles, it is also possible to withdraw dollars or euros (from about 1 ATM out of 10). Consider, that Visa and MasterCard cards are widespread in Russia, unlike American Express which is not generally accepted, not even at the main tourist sites. Expect possible problems with card payment at smaller shops or restaurants and small private hotels; so it seems good to have some cash on you to deal with these cases.
How to have fun
Night clubs
- London Bar, Nesebrskaya street, 6 - Central (Next to the beach), ☎ 7 (8622) 60 82 00. 500 / 1,500 RUR per person. 24/7. Trendy restaurant and bar, offering business lunches during the day and transforms into a music club at night. European and Japanese cuisine, wide range of cocktails and spirits. Concerts (rock, disco, chillout, both Russian and international) and parties every 1/2 weeks.
- Shum Karaoke Club (Шум), Navaginskaya street, 9 - Central, ☎ 7 (9882) 37- 54-20, 7 (9882) 26-30-30, @[email protected]. 24/7 (9: 00-18: 00 - European cuisine restaurant, 19: 00-07: 00 - karaoke. Luxurious karaoke club with a refined design and large assortment of cocktails. The songs are free from Sunday to Thursday.
- 1 Treugolnik Rock Bar (Треугольник), Kirova street, 56 - Adler. From 500 RUR per person. 12:00-03:00. A democratic rock club with an authentic atmosphere and a rich music collection: from rock classics to new trends. Regular parties and concerts of traditional groups e underground (especially from Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union). A collection of books and DVDs dedicated to rock. The club offers not only drinks and parties but also breakfasts, lunches and dinners, its pizza seems to be the best in Adler. Accessible from the center of Sochi.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- Art-Pizza, Teatralnaya street, 9 - Central (Close to the Theater), ☎ 7 (8622) 62-2666. About 500 RUR per person. 10:00-24:00. For a reasonably priced pizza.
- Mama Roza, Moskovskaya, 19A - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 64-2872. About 500 RUR per person. 11:00-23:00. Located in the center, close to the main train station terminal. This café offers a decent and inexpensive variety of pizza and other Italian-style dishes.
- McDonald's, Kurortny Prospekt 17/1 - Central, ☎ 7 8622 64 87 79, 7 8622 64 86 74, 7 8622 64 86 85. 100/300 RUR per person. 8:00-24:00. The only McDonald's in Sochi (in 2011). Traditionally popular for his fast food but also for the free wi-fi.
Average prices
- Frau Marta, Sovetskaya street, 2 - Central (Close to the port), ☎ 7 (8622) 33 72 72. 500 / 1,500 RUR per person. Cozy and elegant German restaurant with a good variety of beers and excellent sausages Nuremberg.
- Lighthouse, Morskoy pereulok, 1/1 - Central (Close to the port), ☎ 7 (8622)37-74-74. 500 / 1,500 RUR per person. 11:00-24:00. Uzbek cuisine garnished with Russian and European dishes. Shashlyk is pilav are strongly recommended.
- Vody Lagidze (Воды Лагидзе), Primorskaya street, 16 - Central, ☎ 7 918 401 3373. A popular Georgian traditional cuisine restaurant with live music. Russian and European specialties are also served.
High prices
- The terrace, Kurortny Prospekt 105 B - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 96-58-58. Over 2,500 RUR per person. 12:00-24:00. Italian cuisine.
- Sinee More (Синее Море), Chernomorskaya street, Sunny Beach (Solnechny Plyazh) (Sochi center), ☎ 7 (8622) 66-21-21, 7 (8622) 90-20-02, @[email protected]. 2,500 / 5,000 RUR per person. 12:00-02:00. Probably the most luxurious restaurant in the city. Mediterranean fish and fish dishes, as well as numerous meat specialties.
Where stay
Sochi is full of hotels (over 200) and their number is constantly increasing, but the cost of accommodation may seem to be too expensive compared to many European destinations. There are gigantic spas and enough hotels, which were once the pride of the former tourist industry Soviet Union, but which are completely obsolete at the moment; on the other hand, in Sochi many mini-hotels have recently sprung up like mushrooms, but only a few of them are able to satisfy medium needs with an international level service. Hotel staff often have problems with hospitality, travel advice and communication (they hardly speak a language other than Russian).
Between these two extremes, there are the normal hotel chains, with 2-3-4 stars with reasonable prices and with an acceptable level of English and with competent and hospitable staff. The situation is slowly improving, but the room for growth is still large.
In general, the Lazarevskoye district offers cheaper accommodations, while the central district of Sochi is Adler they have more expensive options. Prices also depend on the season, traditionally rising in the summer and early May (between the two national holidays). Always book in advance in the summer. The selection of the following hotels mainly include those where language use has been reported English and / or a good level of service. For accommodation in mountain areas refer to Krasnaya Polyana.
Moderate prices
- Victor Guesthouse, Kurortny Prospekt 72/5 - Khosta district (Near Dendrarium), ☎ 7(8622) 92-88-45. 2.000 / 3.500 RUR for a double, depending on the type of room. This comfortable guest-house has 15 rooms, 24-hour reception. Wifi access and breakfast are available with an extra cost. The rooms are exclusively for non-smokers.
- AKS Hotel, Bytkha street, 41/28 (Between the center of Sochi and Matsesta, part of the Khosta district). Double 2.300 - 3.000 RUR. A newly built mini-hotel with 10 rooms. Cozy, reasonably priced, with friendly staff, recently refurbished and swimming pool. Located within a residential area, on the hill of Bytkha, a bit far from the sea and the means of transport.
- Roza Vetrov, Pirogova street, 40 B - Central. Double 2.300 / 3.900 RUR based on the room. The hotel has large rooms with balconies. Breakfast is included, wifi internet is for a fee, 100 RUR per hour. There are also a fitness center and an outdoor swimming pool.
- Orbit Hotel, Lenina street, 280 А - Adler, ☎ 7(8622) 45-01-47. 1.200 RUR for a single, 1.600 / 3.300 for a double. The hotel has a spa with sauna and swimming pool. The relatively low price is offset by some noise from Adler's main street.
- Charm Hotel, Chkalova street, 21 G - Adler (Between Adler and Kudepsta). Double 2.400 / 2.900 RUR. Continental breakfast and wifi internet are included in the room rate.. 21 air-conditioned rooms, outdoor swimming pool, a bit far from the center of Adler.
- Zhemchuzhina, Chernomorskaya street 3 (On the coast of the city center), ☎ 7 (8622) 66-11-88. Single 2.900 RUR, double 3.500 RUR. The monumental Zhemchuzhina Hotel was built in the 70's and has become the symbol of the Soviet tourist center Sochi. Unfortunately, little has changed since then: the rooms have not been renovated and no new staff has been hired. Existing staff hardly know the word "hospitality". Zhemchuzhina is perfectly located in the city center, right on the coast, always has rooms available, but even a one night stay can seem like a challenge.
Average prices
- Villa Anna, Kurortny Prospekt 72/2 - Khosta district (Near Dendrarium). Double 3.400 / 4.800 RUR depending on the room and the season. This 4-star hotel occupies the building which is a copy of a medieval Scottish castle. 30 rooms, free wifi, outdoor swimming pool. Some rooms have Jacuzzis and kitchens.
- Marins Park Hotel, Morskoy pereulok 2 - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 69-3015, 7 (8622) 69-3034. Double 3.500 / 8.000 RUR depending on the room and the season. Centrally located, modern and large 4-star hotel, offering both mid-range and very high-end rooms. Breakfast is included and all rooms are non-smoking.
High prices
- Radisson Lazurnaya, Kurortny Prospekt 103 (Between the center of Sochi and Matsesta), ☎ 7(8622) 66-3333. Single 5.600 / 10.000 RUR, double 9.000 / 16.500 RUR. A large Radisson hotel with its own beach and all support services. Positioned as a luxurious place, but it is actually a 4-star resort hotel with average service, so it can be a bit overpriced.
- Rodina Grand Hotel & Spa, 33, Vinogradnaya St. - Central, ☎ 7 (8622) 53-9036. From 12.500 rub. Sochi's only 5-star luxury hotel. Each of the 40 rooms is individually designed by Suzanne Loggere and Patrick Brugman, the court decorators of Queen Beautrix of the Netherlands.
Safety
The following consulates are located in Sochi:
- 1 Armenian Consulate (
), Kurortny Prospect, 8b, Zolotoy Kolos, ☎ 7 (86222) 974 428. - 2 Italian Consulate (
), Shosseynaya, 3A,, ☎ 7 (962) 856-62-80.
), Kurortny Prospect, 8b, Zolotoy Kolos, ☎
), Shosseynaya, 3A,, ☎How to keep in touch
Internet
WiFi internet connections are available in most hotels and restaurants.
- Free Wifi in the city:
- Sochi International Airport (Sochi International Airport) (Adler). Service provided by MegaFon.
- McDonalds, Kurortny Prospekt, 17 (Town center). Inside and around the restaurant.
- Antikvar restaurant, Ostrovskogo street, 27 (Town center). 10:00-21:00.
- Botanik Cafe, Pobedy street, 73 A - Lazarevskoe.
- Diana Cafe, Tuapsinskaya street, 9A (Town center).
- Dobrynya Cafe, Navaginskaya street, 5 (Town center).
- La Terrazza restaurant, Kurortny Prospekt 105 B (Town center). 12:00-24:00.
- Lentyai Cafe, Chernomorskaya street, 12 (Town center).
- London Bar, Nesebrskaya street, 6 (Town center). Open 24 hours a day.
- Radisson Lazurnaya Hotel, lobby, Kurortny Prospekt 103 (Town center). Open 24 hours a day.
- Sinee More restaurant, Chernomorskaya St. (Sunny Beach (Solnechny Plyazh)). 12:00-02:00.
- SV Cafe, Plastunskaya street, 1 (Town center).
- Yuzhnoe Vzmorye Resort Hotel, Kalinina street, 1 (Adler).
- The internet cafe of Sochi are:
- Computer Club, Severnaya street, 10 (Town center). 9:00-24:00.
- Noosphere (Ноосфера), Kurortny Prospekt, 6 (Town center), ☎ 7 (8622) 92-2615, @[email protected]. 9:00-24:00.
- Novoe Vremya (Новое Время ), Navaginskaya street, 9 (Town center), ☎ 7 (8622) 62-7062.
- Computer Club, Severnaya street, 10 (Town center).
