North Caucasus

Region

Europe's highest mountains and a mosaic of peoples. Mount Elbrus is Europe's highest peak, Dombay is a ski resort, the spa towns of Kislovodsk and Pyatigorsk have mineral waters, and Dagestan has the ancient city of Derbent and the Sulak Canyon. Several republics are subject to strict travel warnings; check current advice.

North Caucasus Dykh-TauKuma–Manych DepressionAkhmad Kadyrov MosqueMukhtarov MosqueAkhmat-ArenaKoshtan-TauGrand Mosque of MakhachkalaLake KezenoyamTeberda Nature ReserveBeshtauChechen IslandMashukMount DzhimaraTyuleny Island (Caspian Sea)Skalisty Range, CaucasusKatyn-TauAddala-ShukhgelmeerAilamaMajar (Golden Horde)Memorial to the Victims of the Deportation of 1944Mount ShalbuzdagJuma Mosque of DerbentBogosskiy RangeKukurtlu DomePride of Muslims MosqueLatsgaMount DyultydagSamursky khrebetTersky RangeChogray ReservoirNordovyPyatigorskGroznyDerbentMakhachkalaMount ElbrusStavropolVladikavkazNalchikCherkesskNazranKislovodskKhasavyurtNevinnomyssk

North Caucasus essentials

Country: Russia
Driest months: Dec-Feb
Pay in: Ruble (р.)
Language: Russian
Emergency: 102

Where to Go in North Caucasus

City Grozny GroznyCapital of Chechnya, known for reconstruction City Vladikavkaz VladikavkazCity in North Ossetia, known for its cultural heritage City Derbent DerbentAncient city on the Caspian Sea, Russia City Stavropol StavropolCity in Stavropol Kray, Russia Island Chechen Island Chechen IslandUninhabited Caspian Island off Dagestan's coast Island Tyuleny Island (Caspian Sea) Tyuleny Island (Caspian Sea)Uninhabited Caspian island in Dagestan with seabird colonies History Memorial to the Victims of the Deportation of 1944 Memorial to the Victims of the Deportation of 1944Memorial honoring 1944 deportation victims in Chechnya History Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of DerbentAncient Caspian citadel and fortified Sasanian-era city Nature Mount Elbrus Mount ElbrusHighest peak in Europe and dormant Caucasus volcano Nature Dykh-Tau Dykh-TauSecond-highest peak in the Caucasus, technical climb Nature Koshtan-Tau Koshtan-TauProminent Caucasus peak notable for technical climbs Nature Lake Kezenoyam Lake KezenoyamHigh-altitude Caucasus lake known for turquoise water
Regions & Cities
Pyatigorsk Explore Pyatigorsk Mineral springs bubble beneath Mount Mashuk and Soviet colonnades in Pyatigorsk; visitors come for spa cures, cable-car views over the Caucasus, Lermontov-era sites and walks through chestnut-lined promenades. Grozny Explore Grozny Rebuilt after war, Grozny’s skyline features the glittering Akhmad Kadyrov Mosque and modern glass towers beside Soviet blocks. Derbent Explore Derbent Derbent’s Naryn‑Kala fortress runs between mountain and Caspian like an old wound; travelers come for its UNESCO ramparts, narrow medieval lanes, Persian-influenced cuisine and seaside fish markets. Makhachkala Explore Makhachkala On the Caspian shore, Makhachkala offers busy fish markets, Dagestani barbecue stalls, Soviet-era promenades and mosques; travelers use it for mountain excursions into the Caucasus foothills and vibrant ethnic bazaars. Mount Elbrus Explore Mount Elbrus Mount Elbrus rises to 5,642 m on the Russian Caucasus; climbers attempt its glaciated slopes, using cable cars and huts from the southern approach in Kabardino-Balkaria. Stavropol Explore Stavropol Set on the northern foothills of the Caucasus, Stavropol draws visitors for tree-lined Sobornaya Square, the 19th-century Holy Trinity Cathedral, nearby mineral spas and access to mountain towns. Vladikavkaz Explore Vladikavkaz A gateway to the central Caucasus, Vladikavkaz offers riverside promenades, Soviet monuments, Ossetian bakeries and cheeses, and mountain roads leading to high-altitude treks and alpine villages. Nalchik Explore Nalchik Caucasus foothills frame tree-filled Nalchik, known for mineral springs, Soviet parks, and a chairlift that climbs toward alpine trails.

North Caucasus at a Glance

Local Time
3:01 AM
GMT+3
Population
10,189,444

Best Things to Do in North Caucasus