Gelendzhik, Resort town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Gelendzhik is a port town on the Black Sea coast in Krasnodar Krai, stretching over 100 kilometers of shoreline and encompassing several bays with sand and pebble beaches. The town has an active harbor, a long waterfront promenade, and scattered residential areas that spread along the flat coastal strip and the forested hills behind it.
An ancient Greek settlement called Torikos once stood on this coast, later known as Pagrae during Roman times. The town took its present form in 1831, when Russian settlers established an outpost along the Black Sea shore.
The town attracts many Russian families during the summer months, who gather along the promenade and fill the beachside cafés and restaurants. Retirees also spend the warm season here, contributing to the relaxed pace of daily life with their leisurely strolls along the waterfront.
The local airport sits about 5 miles (8 kilometers) outside the center and offers regular connections to major Russian cities, especially during the summer season. Numerous beaches along the coast provide free or managed access, with most seeing heavy use in July and August.
The sprawling municipality includes several waterfalls and old-growth forests in the wooded hinterland that many visitors never discover. The town's name comes from Turkish and means little bride, a reminder of the multicultural past of this coastal region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
