If you are thinking of traveling to Maykop, Adygea, you are in the right place. Maykop is the capital of the Republic of Adygea, which is part of the Russian Federation. Founded by General Kozlovsky in 1857, the city has witnessed many invasions and wars throughout its history. Today, Russians make up 72 percent of its population and Adygeans 16 percent. Other minorities in the city are Armenians, Ukrainians, Tatars and Greeks.
Maykop, one of the most beautiful cities of the North Caucasus, is famous for its wide streets, green trees and squares. Maykop, which means “apple tree valley” among the people of Adygea, is also a major transportation hub. Trolleybuses are the most used means of transportation in the city, which has local trains that carry passengers to the Black Sea coast.
The city’s economic resources are food, woodworking, paper and pulp, metalworking, and light industries. In addition to these, Maykop has become a center of spas and thermal facilities thanks to its mineral water resources.
Where Is Maykop?
Let us share with you some of the things you need to know when traveling to Maykop. Maykop is located in the center of the Republic of Adygea, in the southwest of Russia, in the northeast of the Black Sea.
When To Go To Maykop?
The best time to go to Maykop, which has a continental climate, is summer. The city, which has harsh and cold winters, has an average temperature of around 0°C in this season. The average temperature of the summer months is 20 degrees.
Best Places To Visit In Maykop
Maykop welcomes thousands of tourists every year with its fantastic nature and many views. This city, which is the cultural capital of the region, has theatres, parks and a national museum that sheds light on the city’s past.
Adyge Republic Museum
The museum, which sheds light on the history and culture of Adygea, is one of the places that visitors should definitely visit. The three-floor museum contains a rich collection of weapons and household items. In addition to many artifacts that reflect the lifestyle of the country and the city, you can also examine the findings obtained from historical excavations.
Maykop Cathedral Mosque
Maykop Cathedral Mosque is a magnificent work with four minarets and blue domes. This worship center, the largest mosque in Maykop, was built in 2001 in a record time of 18 months. The mosque, which was presented to Maykop as a gift by the Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, has become the symbol of Maykop with its remarkable architecture.
St. Michael’s Monastery
One of the historical buildings of Maykop, St. Michael’s Convent celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2008. Located on the Fiziabgo hill, this chapel is the country’s highest-altitude monastery. Surrounded by secret passages and caves, St. Michael has relics and underground painting workshops for priests.
Pushkin State Drama Theater
The state drama theater building, one of the few historical buildings of Maykop, was built in 1901. The artists who come here with tours organized periodically, stage the plays of famous writers. The theater building, where Anton Chekhov’s play “The Willow Tree” was staged, was named after the famous Russian writer Alexander Pushkin.
Other places to visit
- St. George
- St. Nicholas Monument
- Maykop Park
- Adyge Art Gallery
Transportation In Maykop
When you travel to Maykop, you should also know how to get there. Urban transport in Maykop is done by trolleybuses, buses, minibuses and commercial taxis. The most used means of transportation in the city is the trolleybus. You can easily reach the city with cars rented from car rental offices.
Maykop Cuisine
Your trip to Maykop continues, if you can’t decide what to eat, then it’s time to talk about what to eat in Maykop. The reflection of the Circassian culture on the dishes can be seen in Maykop cuisine. Circassian chicken and Circassian ravioli are among the most popular dishes in Maykop cuisine, where red meat and pastry products are consumed quite often. “Sipsi paste”, which has great importance in Caucasian cuisine, is a kind of chicken dish. Another important food called “Velibah” is a type of pancake. You should also try the Circassian cheese, one of the most famous foods in the country. Circassian Cheese Festival is also held in Maykop.
Popular restaurants
Dodo Pizza: It is one of the most preferred places in the city. The most important feature of the place, which is frequently visited by families with children, is that it is cheap.
Restaurant 1882: This place, which is famous for its beers, is a bit more expensive than others, but is flooded by visitors to try their special beers.
Minami: You can eat very delicious meals at an affordable price in this place, which offers Japanese and Brazilian cuisine. The most famous dish of the restaurant is sushi.
Other restaurants
- Excelsior
- Aristocrat
- Grand Hall Restaurant
Shopping In Maykop
Wouldn’t you like to beautify your Maykop trip with shopping? At the beginning of the products to be bought in Maykop, which is a Caucasian city, the goods belonging to the Caucasian culture come first. You can find rag dolls with local clothes of the Caucasus in boutique haberdashery and shops. Another product that visitors show the most interest in is the Caucasian Kalpak. There are also modern shopping centers in the city where you can shop.
Maykop Nightlife
Maykop does not have a vibrant nightlife due to its sparse population. Parties are held from time to time in bars and pubs in the city centre. If you want to relax as well as have fun with music and dance, the cozy places in Maykop can help you. When you travel to Maykop, do not leave without tasting the nightlife!
Maykop Festivals
- Circassian Cheese Festival
- Kamil Pşine Festival
- Paint Festival (September)
Maykop Public Holidays
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Fatherland Defense Day (23 February)
- International Women’s Day (8 March)
- Spring And Labor Day (May 1)
- Victory Day (May 9)
- Russia Day (12 June)
- Adygea Republic Day (October 5)
- National Unity Day (November 4)
Useful Information For Maykop
- Emergency Assistance: 103
- Fire: 101
- Police: 102
