What to do on November holidays

Although early November is not the most beautiful time of year, the presence of additional days off immediately adds to its appeal. In 2025, November 1 (Saturday) is a shortened working day, and then the holidays will stretch for three days, from Sunday (November 2) to Tuesday (November 4). And now you are ready to make plans for National Unity Day. We are also not standing aside and offer five options for activities for the November holidays in 2025.

Ride the funicular in Krasnaya Polyana

Taking plane tickets to Sochi at this time is a great idea: there will no longer be crowds of vacationers, but skiers and snowboarders have not yet arrived. This means you can look at the mountains without jostling in funicular queues. The climate of Krasnaya Polyana allows you to move from golden autumn to snowy winter and back in half an hour. In the evening, walks along the quietly rustling Mzymta River and dinners in luxurious restaurants await you.

Three-day plan

Day 1: the plane lands at Adler airport. You can get to Rosa Khutor, Esto-Sadok, and Krasnaya Polyana by Lastochka train (40-45 minutes travel time), city buses, carsharing, or taxi. Read more here.

Check into your hotel and head to the mountains: a cable car leads to the top of Rosa Peak. It's better to buy a sightseeing ticket in advance to save a small amount. The combo tariff includes not only ascent and descent but also lunch at a restaurant in the Olympic Village and museum visits.

In the evening, descend back into the valley, stroll along the Mzymta River embankment. Have dinner at one of the many restaurants and cafes. You can attend a concert or another event, announcements for which are usually posted at the resort.

Day 2: head to AJ Hackett Sochi Skypark. Walk across the Skybridge, the longest suspension pedestrian bridge in Russia. Have lunch at a restaurant within the Skypark. In the afternoon, visit the Akhshtyrskaya Cave, located nearby. It is one of the most famous caves in the Sochi area.

Another option is to go to the Gazprom Polyana resort. There are also cable cars here, and the cost of a sightseeing ticket is even lower. In one day, you can visit two slopes, and when you get tired, descend and visit the husky park.

Day 3: depending on your return flight time, you might still have a few free hours. In the morning, you can briefly visit the hotel spa (if available) or check out the cultural and ethnographic center "My Russia".

Stroll through Krasnodar Park

Krasnodar Airport is open, hurray! Direct flights are already available with Aeroflot and Pobeda, so you can choose convenient plane tickets to Krasnodar (spoiler – there are morning departures !).

Galitsky Park (also known as Krasnodar Park) is a modern marvel of landscape architecture and a favorite recreational spot for residents and guests of Krasnodar. Spanning a vast area, the park impresses with its diversity. It features cozy alleys for walks, picturesque ponds, and modern art objects. Another new addition is a water amphitheater in the cloud park. The name itself promises something outstanding, so coming here for the November holidays is an excellent idea.

What to do in Krasnodar

Day 1: start with a stroll along Krasnaya Street – the city's main street. Admire the architecture, visit shops. Be sure to find the monument to Catherine II – the city's founder. In the afternoon, you can visit the Krasnodar Regional Historical and Archaeological Museum, and for dinner, head to a Cossack cuisine restaurant – "Stanъ", "Katenka-Katyusha", or The Pech.

Day 2: Galitsky Park awaits! Its area is about 22 hectares, enough for a full day of walking. Climb to the "Pyramid" terrace, walk between the "Abstracts" columns. If you came to Krasnodar with children, there are all sorts of children's slides, swings, a rope park, and a water maze for them. Several cafes and restaurants operate within the park – "Krasnodar" with a full menu, breakfasts, and a children's room, Burger Bar, coffee shop "1.62", and "Morozhenoe" cafe.

Day 3: a morning stroll along the Kuban River embankment is a great idea. Visit the St. Catherine's Cathedral or the Krasnodar Regional Art Museum. Before heading to the airport, treat yourself to lunch with Kuban cuisine dishes.

Relax in the thermal springs of Adygea

There is another, no less wonderful option, if you have already bought tickets to Krasnodar, – head further to Maykop. The bus journey will take approximately three hours. People mostly go to Adygea for its natural beauty, for hikes on the Lago-Naki plateau, and for river rafting. Three November days will hardly be enough for active tourism, but they will be quite sufficient to relax in the local thermal springs.

Where to go for healing waters

Geothermal spring "Aquatermo": a modern and elegant complex with three geothermal pools equipped with hydromassage installations. You can swim here all year round! You can book a room for a couple of days or pay for a day visit. The local water is similar in its characteristics to the waters of Kislovodsk resorts.

Republic of Adygea, Tulsky village, Zheleznodorozhnaya st., 55 / Website

Thermal Park-Hotel "Psygups": this is not an abbreviation inherited from Soviet times, but the historical name of the Adyghe people. In Russian, it translates as "soul of water". And this soul is a boron-siliceous mineral of sodium chloride composition with an increased content of organic substances. Naphthenes in its composition give it an unusual darkish hue, a specific smell, and a salty taste. You can stay in such water for 15-20 minutes with breaks. The hotel's room stock consists of a main building, guest chalets, and a cottage with a private pool.

Republic of Adygea, Udobny village, Pogranichnaya st., 7 / Website

Thermal spring "Vodnaya Riviera": there are as many as nine outdoor pools (seven for adults and two for children), separate cottages, gazebos with barbecues, a cafe, and a lounge area. The water temperature ranges from +20 to +40 degrees Celsius, so swimming is comfortable even in November. Waterfalls, hydro- and air massages add to the pleasure.

Republic of Adygea, Tulsky village, Zheleznodorozhnaya street, 45 / Website

See the churches and cathedrals of Suzdal

Didn't make it to the cucumber festival in summer? No problem, there's still plenty to see in Suzdal. And three November days off will be just enough to see the most important sights. Suzdal is part of the Golden Ring, and although it is not its capital, it can certainly be called its main pearl. It's worth visiting to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient Rus' and enjoy the unique beauty of this museum-city. It is one of the few cities in Russia that has preserved its historical appearance almost unchanged.

What to definitely see in Suzdal

Suzdal Kremlin: what did you think? Of course, you should start exploring the city with its main attraction. Visit the Archbishop's Chambers, see the frescoes of the Nativity Cathedral, and walk along the rampart to the observation deck.

Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life: samples of peasant houses, churches, and mills from the 18th-19th centuries are collected outdoors. For the atmosphere of an authentic Russian village – come here.

Shopping Arcades: the best place to try all varieties of mead and stock up on souvenirs for yourself and friends. Old Russian style textiles, painted ceramics, and cucumber jam are top choices.

Head to Istanbul

November holidays are enough for a trip abroad too! You just need to choose a destination with a relatively short flight. And flights Moscow – Istanbul are unrivaled here. See for yourself: the flight is short (only five hours), the culture is different, the city is beautiful, the food is delicious. If you've never been to Istanbul, then the November holidays are a convenient time for a first acquaintance. And if you've been before, you know for sure that you can return to this city many times and still find something interesting.

Three lesser-known attractions

Bulgur Palace: a relatively young location (the palace is only 112 years old, which is "yesterday" by local standards), but with the best view of the Galata Tower. It only opened its doors to tourists in 2024, so many have not yet had a chance to visit.

Chora Monastery (Kariye Museum): opened in the summer of 2024 after restoration. Although it is an active mosque, beautiful Byzantine mosaics and frescoes are preserved inside.

Arnavutköy District: each of Istanbul's districts has unique features, and Arnavutköy is no exception. It is located on the European shore of the Bosphorus and is known for its charming wooden houses painted in bright colors. It's a great place to reserve a table at one of the fish restaurants, admire the view of the Bosphorus, and dine on fresh seafood.

Have a great weekend, everyone!