Anapa sits at the northern end of Russia's Black Sea coast, where the flat Kuban steppe meets the first foothills of the Caucasus. It has wide sandy beaches — some stretching 600 metres deep — that are considered the best on the northern coast, and the shallow, warm water makes it Russia's most popular family resort.
The town has ancient roots. It was founded as the Greek colony of Gorgippia, and the Gorgippia Archaeological Museum on the site of the old city displays mosaics, pottery and stone tombs from that era. Greek and Ottoman influences are visible in the local culture and architecture.
Beyond the beaches, Anapa offers scuba diving on WWII wrecks and sunken cargo ships, sea fishing, and hiking in the nearby mountains. The area is also known as a balneological resort — mineral springs and therapeutic mud have drawn visitors for over a century. The town has an airport with direct flights from Moscow and other Russian cities.